That’s been my saving grace. Years ago, I tried to get one wall glass-smooth and drove myself nuts—ended up spending more on sanding blocks than the actual joint compound.
Funny you mention “rustic charm”—that’s basically become my go-to phrase for any wall that doesn’t look like a hotel lobby. I used to obsess over every little imperfection, thinking buyers would notice, but honestly, most folks just see a freshly painted room and move on.
I’ve had a few flips where the drywall wasn’t perfect, but once the furniture’s in and there’s some art on the walls, nobody cares. In fact, I’ve had people compliment the “character” of a slightly textured finish. It’s wild how expectations shift once you stop aiming for perfection.
That said, I do think there’s a line—if it looks like you patched it with oatmeal, maybe give it another pass. But yeah, as long as it looks decent after primer, I’m with you: call it intentional and keep rolling. Time is money in this game...
Couldn’t agree more about the “rustic charm” approach—most people are just happy the walls aren’t crumbling. I do think lighting plays a huge role too. A harsh overhead light will show every flaw, but softer lighting or natural light tends to hide a lot. I’ll spend extra time on spots that’ll be in direct sunlight or seen from an angle, but otherwise, I just aim for smooth enough that it doesn’t catch your eye. No sense burning hours on something nobody will notice once there’s a couch in front of it.
I’ll spend extra time on spots that’ll be in direct sunlight or seen from an angle, but otherwise, I just aim for smooth enough that it doesn’t catch your eye. No sense burning hours on somet...
Totally get what you mean about lighting—makes such a difference. I spent way too long stressing over tiny bumps, then realized once the furniture was in, nobody cared. "No sense burning hours on something nobody will notice once there’s a couch in front of it." Couldn’t agree more.
I get where you’re coming from, but I can’t help myself—I always end up fussing over the spots even behind furniture. Drives my partner nuts, but I just know if I skip it, that’ll be the one time we rearrange and suddenly it’s super obvious. Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment...
I get it—once you’ve lived through a surprise like that, it’s hard to let things slide. I used to skip the spots behind radiators until we had to move one for plumbing. The mess back there was embarrassing. Now I just do the whole wall, even if nobody sees it. It’s a pain, but at least I don’t have to redo anything later. Maybe it’s overkill, but I’d rather be thorough than regret it down the line.
