A method for repairing coating defects on a substrate with a surface coating with visual effects generated by the presence of visual effect pigments, said method comprising the steps of applying a first coating composition to form a first layer covering an affected area over the coating defect, wherein the first coating composition comprises one or more visual effect control agents and is free from said visual effect pigments; partially drying the first layer; applying a second coating composition over the first layer wherein the second coating composition comprises one or more visual effect control agents and one or more matching pigments for matching said visual effect of the surface coating; and d) curing said first and said second layers to form a repaired coating on said surface coating on said substrate; wherein said repaired coating is free of visible edge effects.