How to Cover Up a Thumbtack Hole in Drywall

When you remove a thumbtack from drywall, the hole might be very visible, but the repair is minor and does not require you to use drywall joint compound to cover the hole. Instead, you can use spackling compound, which is designed to fill up just these sorts of small holes, dents or cracks in drywall surfaces. Two advantages that spackling compound offers are that it doesn't need to be primed before you paint over it and, especially with a small thumbtack hole, you only need to apply the spackle once to cover the hole.

Rag
Spackling compound
4-inch taping knife
Paint
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Wipe any dust away from the drywall spot where the thumbtack hole is located using a rag.
- 2
  Dip the tip of your index finger into the spackling compound and press spackle into the thumbtack hole, using your finger to pack it in.
- 3
  Glide the edge of a 4-inch drywall taping knife across the hole to level the spackle's surface with the rest of the drywall. Review the spackling compound manufacturer's instructions to determine how long it will take the spackle to completely dry.
- 4
  Dip the tip of a paintbrush in paint and dab the it over the dry spot of spackle to paint it the same color as the rest of the wall.

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