Totally get where you're coming from. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tried to fix a “flaw” only to make it worse or just waste time. At some point, you realize chasing perfection in old plaster is a losing game. Light changes everything too—what looks perfect at night suddenly shows a ridge at noon. Good enough is usually more than enough, especially once the paint goes on and furniture’s back in place.
At some point, you realize chasing perfection in old plaster is a losing game.
Couldn’t agree more, but I still catch myself fussing over tiny spots that nobody else will ever see. The worst is when you think you’ve nailed it, then daylight hits and suddenly it’s like a topographic map. Honestly, after primer and paint, half those “flaws” just disappear anyway.
I get the urge to chase every little imperfection, but honestly, most clients never notice unless you point it out. Natural light is brutal, though—sometimes I’ll walk in the next day and wonder what happened overnight. In the end, primer and a good flat paint hide a multitude of sins. If you’re still seeing ridges or dips after that, maybe it’s time to step away for a bit. Perfection’s overrated, especially on old walls.
Perfection’s overrated, especially on old walls.
Couldn’t agree more with that. I used to obsess over every seam and tiny bump, sanding until my arms felt like noodles. One trick I picked up: after your final skim coat dries, run a shop light across the wall at a sharp angle. It’ll show you what natural light will later. But yeah, at some point you just have to call it good enough—especially in older houses where nothing’s truly flat anyway. Flat paint is definitely your friend.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I remember patching up a 1920s plaster wall—thought I’d go nuts chasing every little dip and crack. After a while, I realized the charm’s in those imperfections. Like you said, nothing’s square or level anyway. I still use that angled light trick, but now I just fix the obvious stuff and move on. Flat paint hides a multitude of sins... and honestly, after furniture goes in, nobody notices the rest.