Before You Shop Consider these points and plan your purchases accordingly: Decide whether you want to repaint the whole wall or just touch up patched areas. If you’re patching tiny nail holes, you can cover up the repairs by dabbing on touch-up paint with a soft cloth. If you’re patching a large number of holes and other damage, prime the patched walls before repainting -- especially if you’re choosing a semi-gloss or shinier finish. The higher the gloss, the more different surface textures appear between the patch and the surrounding paint. Caution Before you begin your repair, it's important to know the utility placement in your home. Typically, electric wires are attached to wall studs. Locate the wall studs before you begin cutting, drilling or nailing drywall. Caution Wear protective clothing, work gloves, goggles and a dust mask when working with drywall.