Q&A for How to Fill Nail Holes

If your walls are white or off-white, you might be able to get away with patching the holes with a little spackle and leaving it unpainted. Wipe away any excess spackle around the hole with a damp cloth so it doesn’t show up against the surrounding paint as much. You can use wood filler in a matching color if you’re patching a hole in unpainted wood.

This is usually a good idea, but you might check your lease or ask your landlord or property manager to be sure. Some landlords may take the cost of the repairs out of your security deposit if you don’t do it yourself.

Most painters use shrink-free spackling compound and sand it down before painting over it. Wood filler works best for holes in wood surfaces, such as wooden walls and trim.

The wood and the filler putty expand and shrink at different rates, and as both get older and drier, the putty loses elasticity and "grip."