Wall repairs and hanging things the right way
Holes, dents, nail pops, and hanging things so they stay up. Walls are forgiving, and a good patch with a thin coat of paint really can disappear.
Where to start: For dents and holes, patching drywall starts with spackle and works up to a new piece of drywall. Little round bumps in the paint are nail pops. Before you hang anything heavy, find a stud, then pick the right hardware for heavy mirrors and pictures.
What are you dealing with?
Patch a hole in drywall
Hang heavy pictures and mirrors safely
How to find a wall stud (with or without a stud finder)
Fix nail pops in drywall
Common questions
How big a hole can I fix with spackle alone?
Nail and screw holes, and dents up to about half an inch. Bigger than that, use a mesh patch. Past a few inches, cut in a new piece of drywall.
Do I need a stud to hang a heavy mirror?
It's the safest choice for anything over about 20 pounds. If there's no stud where you need it, use a rated anchor and stay well under its weight limit.
Looking for something else? Browse all guides or see emergency steps.