How to Patch Nail Holes in Trim

Nail holes are the inevitable souvenirs of hanging pictures, installing shelves, or securing loose trim. While small, a sea of unpatched pinpricks on your baseboards or door casings can make a room look neglected and unpolished. A clean, seamless patch is the difference between a amateur job and a professional finish. Successfully hiding these holes is less about the filler itself and more about the technique of layering and smoothing. You want a patch that is perfectly level with the surrounding wood, ensuring that once it is painted, the light doesn't catch the indentation. Approach this as a detail-oriented task, and you can make those holes disappear entirely.

Clear the debris first. Use a putty knife or the tip of a small screwdriver to gently scrape away any loose paint or wood fibers sticking out from the hole. You want the surface to be slightly recessed or flat, not raised.
Pack the filler tight. Take a small amount of non-shrinking wood filler on your finger or a putty knife and press it firmly into the hole. Overfill the hole slightly, as the material will shrink as it dries.
Wait for full cure. Wait for the manufacturer-recommended time for the filler to dry completely. Avoid the temptation to sand it while it still feels cool or tacky to the touch.
Sand perfectly smooth. Use a small piece of 220-grit sandpaper wrapped around a block or held with two fingers to sand the filler level with the trim. Sand in a circular motion, keeping pressure light to avoid scarring the surrounding paint.
Prime before paint. Apply a tiny dot of water-based primer over the sanded patch if you are using a new paint color or if the filler is highly absorbent. This prevents the filler from soaking up the finish paint and appearing dull.
Blend the paint seamlessly. Using a small artist's brush, dab your trim paint over the patch, extending just slightly onto the surrounding area to blend it in. Feather the edges outward so there is no hard line between the patch and the original finish.