How to Patch Holes Without Leaving a Mark

There comes a time in every person's life when an unfortunate accident occurs that leaves a hole in your otherwise perfectly in-tact wall. But have no fear! There are many cheap and simple options at your disposal to repair the damage. You don't even need experience in carpentry of any kind to solve your dilemma.

How to Fix a Hole in Drywall

Image via Flickr by jeffwilcox

Most home-improvement and big-box stores carry small drywall repair kits that include a peel-and-stick metal patch and putty for repairing drywall holes. Before you use the kit, make sure you carefully clean debris away from the area around the hole and make it as smooth as possible for adhering the patch. Cut the patch according to the size and shape of the hole. No need for overkill here, since you may be able to use the rest of the patch for future/other holes. Firmly press the patch against the wall for at least 60 seconds.

Next, apply the included putty smoothly over the patch, being sure to "feather" the top layer so the transition between the putty and original drywall appears as smooth as possible. Let the putty dry until it turns the same white color as the surrounding wall (it originally comes pink). Once finished, you could lightly sand down the repaired area to give it an even smoother look.

These kits are especially helpful considering most apartments for rent in Chicago and other major cities want their renters to fix every hole before moving out.

How to Fix a Hole in Concrete

Image via Flickr by shaire productions

Repairing a hole in a concrete wall requires a chisel, wire brush, cement mix, and a handful of other items you probably already have lying around your house. First, you'll want to soak the hole and the area surrounding it with water (preferably with a garden house). This helps make sure the existing concrete doesn't draw water from the patch before you've finished applying it. Next, you'll want to clean up excess water and use that wire brush to sweep away any dust or debris in the hole.

Grab your concrete mix and prepare it until it's a thick paste. You'll want to put as much of the concrete mix into the hole as possible, otherwise you'll run the risk of the patch falling out because of excess space. Once applied, cover the repaired hole with a tarp or other covering for five days, watering the area regularly each day. You can't guarantee your hole will be entirely mark free, but it'll look better than before.

How to Fix a Hole in Wallpaper

Image via Flickr by wwarby

This one is a bit trickier. Find a friend with a high-quality camera and Photoshop, and have them take a picture of your wall and use the clone stamp tool in Photoshop to "generate" new wallpaper for you (assuming it's a repetitive pattern). Be sure to use a high-quality printer and adhesives to replace the wallpaper with your new "counterfeit" version (and make sure it's to scale before you print).

With a little patience, ingenuity, and hard work, you have all the skills necessary to repair your own embarrassing wall-holes!