The present invention is directed to repair compositions for thermal barrier coatings and methods of use thereof. The repair compositions include a ceramic composition, a colloidal solution, an aqueous binder, an aqueous dispersant, and an aqueous ammonia solution. The ceramic composition includes a first population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 250 nm to about 1000 nm, a second population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 2 μm to about 10 μm, and a third population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 20 μm to about 250 μm. One method includes depositing the repair layer onto the damaged region, the repair layer including the repair composition, and heat treating the repair layer.