Holey moley. After some electrical work last week (warning: $herdog makes a cameo in that post), our ceiling ended up with a few annoying holes.
We started like many DIYers do: with overly dramatic protective gear. Sunglasses and hats? Check. Breathing masks? Double check. Our safety glasses were nowhere to be found because we’ve been buried in book work, so we improvised. A dusty ceiling is the worst when it gets everywhere, so some extra coverage felt necessary.
Next up was the actual patching. I usually handle spackling duties around here, but John’s longer reach meant he started things off by lightly sanding the edges of the holes. Sanding the perimeter helps the patch adhere and gives a cleaner base for the compound to bond to.
We used self-adhesive wire mesh patches from Home Depot—basically a piece of metal mesh attached to sticky paper. You press it over the hole, spread spackle across it, let it dry, sand smooth, and then paint. It’s a straightforward system that makes ceiling repairs much less miserable. The toughest challenge is fighting gravity while working overhead, but a little patience goes a long way.
Once the mesh was firmly in place, we applied a generous layer of spackle using the widest putty knife we own. The goal is to fill and level the patch so it blends with the surrounding surface. Aim to build the compound up slightly rather than trying to go too thin—sanding will refine the final profile, and it’s easier to remove excess than to add more later.
After allowing the spackle to dry the recommended amount of time, we sanded the repairs. For large, flat areas like walls and ceilings, a sanding block is my preferred tool because it keeps the surface flat and consistent. Fine-grit sandpaper attached to a block helps prevent creating low or high spots. I’ll still use loose sandpaper for curved or detailed pieces of furniture where flexibility is helpful.
Sanding inevitably creates a fine white dust everywhere, so after that step we swept, vacuumed, and changed clothes. Nothing like finding spackle dust in unexpected places hours later. Once clean, the patched spots showed as slightly darker areas against the ceiling—totally normal before paint.
We also patched a hole near the new pendant lights and left one above the sink open for now because it’s awaiting a fixture. That one will stay until we choose a light we love, then we’ll cover it permanently when we install it.
Two coats of ceiling paint later (thank you to the previous homeowners for leaving the leftover can!), and the patched areas disappeared into the surrounding surface. Ceiling paint has a way of evening out texture and color, and applied correctly, it makes previous repairs vanish.
After the final coat, the ceiling looked seamless. The spot next to the pendants that had been a glaring reminder of the recent electrical work is now indistinguishable from the rest of the ceiling. Small victory, but satisfying.
We also recorded the whole process on video. It’s not a perfect tutorial—there are moments of falling spackle, a surprised shriek, and a few outtakes—but it captures the reality of DIY: it can get messy, it might require a couple of attempts, and you’ll probably laugh at yourself along the way. Still, the technique is simple enough that most people would rate it about a 2 out of 10 on the difficulty scale. So grab some courage (or your favorite silly undershorts), and give it a try.
Hope this walkthrough helps if you find yourself patching ceiling holes. Up next in the kitchen: planning shelving and painting the vent hood, followed by flooring and finishing touches. I’m excited about adding colorful plates and bowls and the cork detail we have planned—those small selections really change a room. What projects are you tackling this week? Patching holes, building shelves, painting, or sneaking in a secret project? Share your experiences—spackle stories welcome!