I totally get where you’re coming from—those little flaws seem invisible until the sun hits just right, then suddenly it’s all you see. I’ve been trying to figure out if it’s better to do a quick skim coat over the whole wall or just focus on the joints and feather them out as much as possible. Has anyone found one method works better for hiding those surprise imperfections, especially with eggshell or satin paints?
Honestly, I’ve been down this road more times than I care to admit. Those “invisible” seams have a way of jumping out once the light shifts, especially with eggshell or satin—those finishes are unforgiving. In my experience, a full skim coat is worth the extra effort if you want that truly smooth, pro look. It’s a pain up front, but it saves you from chasing little flaws later. If it’s just a rental or you’re not super picky, feathering the joints can be fine, but for anything you want to show off (or sell), I’d bite the bullet and skim the whole thing. It’s one of those jobs where cutting corners always comes back to haunt you.
Title: Getting smooth drywall joints without losing your mind
Man, you nailed it about those seams showing up when you least expect it. I’ve lost count of how many times I thought I had ‘em licked, then the sun comes in at just the right angle and suddenly it’s like a neon sign pointing out every flaw. Eggshell and satin are straight-up snitches for that stuff.
I hear you on the full skim coat. It’s a grind, but if you’re going for that “did a pro do this?” look, it’s pretty much the only way. I’ll admit, I’ve tried to cheat it with just feathering the joints and blending, especially when I’m tired or the job’s just dragging on. Sometimes it passes the “10-foot test,” but then you get that one friend who’s way too observant and suddenly you’re explaining why your wall looks like a topographical map.
One thing I’ve found that helps (besides just biting the bullet and skimming) is using a good work light at a low angle while you’re mudding and sanding. It’s a pain to set up, but it catches stuff you’d never see otherwise. Also, don’t underestimate the power of a decent sanding pole and some patience. I’ve tried those sanding sponges and they’re fine for touch-ups, but for big areas, it’s all about the pole sander.
If it’s a rental or a basement where nobody’s going to be scrutinizing the walls, I’ll just feather and call it a day. But yeah, for anything you actually care about, skimming is the way to go. Just gotta accept you’ll be living in a cloud of dust for a bit. My wife’s still finding drywall dust in places I didn’t even know existed.
And if you ever get tempted to skip priming before paint—don’t. That’s a whole other can of worms. Learned that one the hard way...
- Been there with the “topographical map” look—my living room still has a spot that haunts me when the afternoon sun hits just right.
- I’m all about saving a buck, so I tried the “just feather and blend” trick in my laundry room. Looked fine until I painted with semi-gloss. Yikes.
- Cheap hack that helped: I used an old desk lamp on the floor to spot the worst spots before sanding. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
- Honestly, I skip the full skim unless it’s a main room. Sometimes “good enough” is actually good enough, especially if you’re not aiming for magazine-ready walls.
- Priming is non-negotiable though. Learned that the hard way—paint peeled in sheets. Never again.
Honestly, I skip the full skim unless it’s a main room. Sometimes “good enough” is actually good enough, especially if you’re not aiming for magazine-ready walls.
Totally get this. I used to obsess over every joint and corner, but after a few rooms I realized chasing perfection is a fast track to burnout. Especially in spaces like closets or utility rooms—if it’s flat-ish and the seams aren’t screaming at me, I call it a win.
One thing I started doing is using leftover drywall scraps to practice blending before hitting the actual wall. It’s a bit of a time sink, but it saves me from those “Yikes” moments under bright light. Also, for anyone trying to keep things eco-friendly, I switched to recycled-content joint compound. Works just as well, less guilt.
Lighting is everything, too. That desk lamp trick is gold, but I’ve also used my phone flashlight at a low angle. Shows every bump and dip, which is both helpful and kind of depressing if you’re a perfectionist.
I’ll mildly disagree on always skipping the skim. In older houses with tons of patchwork, sometimes a quick all-over pass with thinned mud can make a world of difference—just enough to even things out without going full pro-level.
Priming though—no debate there. Tried skipping it once with some “eco” paint that claimed it would stick to anything. Peeled right off in sheets. Lesson learned: eco or not, primer is your friend.
Anyway, it’s drywall, not a museum wall. If you’re not staring at it every day, good enough really is good enough.
