Yeah, I hear you—old houses are their own beast. You can spend forever chasing perfection and still end up frustrated. I’ve found that a wider knife on the final coat helps blend those joints better, especially when the wall’s all wavy to start with. I don’t go crazy sanding either, just enough to knock down the ridges. Flat paint is definitely a lifesaver, but sometimes I’ll even run my hand along the wall to feel for weird spots before painting. It’s never going to be perfect, but like you said, from five feet away? Looks just fine.
Flat paint is definitely a lifesaver, but sometimes I’ll even run my hand along the wall to feel for weird spots before painting.
Totally agree—your hand catches stuff your eyes miss, especially in weird lighting. I’ve learned not to stress over every little imperfection. In these old places, “good enough” really is good enough. Sometimes I’ll even leave a few bumps just so it matches the rest of the house... adds character, right?
- Flat paint hides a ton, but yeah, your hand will find every little ridge or dip you missed.
- I’m with you—old houses are never perfect, and honestly, if you try to make every wall flawless, you’ll lose your mind (and probably your weekend).
- Sometimes I’ll spot a weird patch after painting and just shrug. If it’s not catching the light in a weird way, it stays.
- My rule: if you can’t see it from five feet away, it doesn’t exist.
- Plus, a little texture just means “vintage charm,” right?
I totally get the “vintage charm” angle—sometimes those little imperfections just add character. But I’ve found using a damp sponge instead of sanding can help blend out minor ridges without making a mess or wasting materials. Has anyone tried eco-friendly joint compounds? Curious if they’re any easier to work with or just hype.
- Gotta admit, I’m a fan of the “good enough” finish—if you can’t see it from across the room, it’s fine by me.
- Damp sponge is a lifesaver, especially if you hate dust as much as I do. Just don’t get too aggressive or you’ll end up with a weird crater situation.
- Tried one of those eco-friendly joint compounds once. It was... fine? Maybe a bit stickier than the regular stuff, and it dried slower. Didn’t notice a huge difference in smoothness, but hey, less guilt about rinsing out my bucket in the yard.
- Pro tip: keep snacks nearby. Smoothing drywall is 80% waiting for mud to dry and 20% questioning your life choices.
