Entryway Renovation Vol.6: Wall Patching & Repair

u270fufe0f Originally published: 2016-12-17 / ud83dudd04 Updated: May 8, 2026

2026 Update u2014 Looking Back on the Entryway Renovation

Compared to the bathroom renovation, the entryway had fewer steps and is genuinely beginner-friendly. In terms of return on investment, though, I’d still rank it among the highest-impact renovations you can do u2014 because when the entryway changes, the entire feel of the property changes with it.

Patching Decides the Final Finish

After stripping the old wallpaper, you’ll always find screw holes and uneven spots on the wall. Filling those with joint compound before hanging new wallpaper is the basic rule. Skip this step and every imperfection will show right through the new paper.

The golden rule for patching: apply it thin, spread it wide, and do multiple coats. Applying it thick in one pass causes cracking as it dries. The workflow is: first coat (base layer) u2192 let dry u2192 second coat (finish layer) u2192 sand smooth.

Choosing Wallpaper for an Entryway

The ideal entryway wallpaper is something that resists dirt and can be wiped clean. Choose a vinyl wallpaper with a tough surface u2014 it’s a spot where bags bump the wall and hands brush the surface.

My pick was Sangetsu’s “SP” series u2014 great stain resistance, easy to wipe down, reasonably priced, and reliably in stock so you can order in bulk.

Shoe Storage: Off-the-Shelf + DIY Adjustments Is the Fastest Route

The shoe cabinet I installed was an off-the-shelf unit from the home center u2014 a wall-mount type that’s straightforward to set up. The key watch-out: always fasten screws into wall studs. Driving screws into drywall with no backing means the weight of shoes will pull the whole thing off the wall.

The Finished Entryway u2014 What I Felt as a Landlord

The moment the entryway was done, the whole property felt different. After 15 years as a landlord, I can say this with confidence: spend 100,000 yen on an entryway renovation and you can raise the rent by 5,000 yen a month and still get applications u2014 meaning you recoup the investment in two years.

ud83dudd27 Tools & Materials I Used

• VOICE Green Laser Level u2014 #1 in 4 Rakuten rankings u00bb
• Find DIY materials at Supakuri Shop u00bb

Hi, it’s DIY Dad! Continuing the 1F entryway renovation series.

Following the wallpaper removal, the next step is leveling out all the bumps and dips in the wall substrate before new wallpaper goes on.

Tools and materials for this stage: joint compound (patching filler), sandpaper, nail set, and hammer.

Any nails or screw heads poking out get tapped flush with the nail set and hammer first. Then sunken spots get filled with compound. Once it dries, I sand down any raised areas to get a flat surface. If the compound has shrunk back after drying, I fill it again. It’s genuinely tedious work.

Honestly, I love the big, energetic jobs u2014 this kind of painstaking detail work makes me a little sloppy. That’s a confession, not advice.

u2191 I didn’t get a great shot of the entryway wall specifically, so here’s a photo from another area showing a surface after compound has been applied and leveled out. That’s all for today u2014 see you next time!

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