How to Fill Thumb Tack Holes in a Wall

Most of the time, when you hang something on the wall, you use a nail or one of those adhesive hooks. Every now and then, though, you might grab a few thumbtacks to temporarily hang a poster or something the kids drew. When you remove the poster or the artwork, your wall has some small holes. If you're painting the room, fill in the holes so that your finished job will look professional.

Utility knife
Joint compound
2-inch putty knife
Fine-grit sanding sponge

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the holes in the wall. If there are any jagged edges around it, carefully trim these away with the utility knife.
- 2
  Put some joint compound on the end of a putty knife. Holding the knife at a 45-degree angle, apply the joint compound to the wall. Press firmly so the compound fills the hole, and then hold the knife as vertically as you can and scrape over the area again to get any excess joint compound off the wall.
- 3
  Wait for the joint compound to dry. The time required will vary, depending on the brand, indoor temperature and humidity.
- 4
  Inspect the holes, and run your hand over them. If the joint compound has shrunk, and there are any indentations where the holes were, apply a second layer of joint compound and wait for it to dry.
- 5
  Lightly sand the area with a sanding sponge to smooth out any rough areas or high spots. Close your eyes and run your hand over the area. It should feel smooth and seamless. If it isn't, continue sanding until you get the desired results.

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