Stop Guessing—Hang Every Picture Perfectly

Hanging pictures on the wall may be one of the easiest DIY projects you can take on. But, it still has its challenges. Hammering the nails so the picture is at the right height while also being perfectly level is a lot harder than it looks. Even the simple task of hanging the picture’s hanger on the nail can be surprisingly frustrating. These popular home/DIY influencers, ken.c.long and Nils Rasmussen of LRN2DIY solve both issues. 

Related: Key Won’t Go In? Try This Simple Hack

The ToothPaste Hack

Nailing your picture into the wall so the picture actually ends up at the height you want can be challenging. Most of us eyeball it then end up having to pull out the nail and nail it back in when it's the wrong height. It can be especially challenging if the picture has two hooks, as the holes will need to be level for the picture to be level. This video from LRN2DIY solves both problems in a single hack using a couple dabs of toothpaste and a level:

• Pull the hooks on the back of the frame outward then put a dab of tooth paste on the hook or hooks.
• Hold the bottom of the picture against the wall with the top tilted back toward you. 
• Hold your level on the top of the frame with your right hand. Align the picture so it’s level and at the desired height. 
• Once you’re satisfied with the height and the picture is level, push the top of the frame against the wall. 
• The two dabs of toothpaste will make a mark on the wall exactly where you need to drive in your nails. 
• Drive nails into the spots, clean away the toothpaste from the wall and frame, and hang your picture. 

Hang Your Picture in One Try

Now that you have the nail or nails properly located in the wall, it’s time to hang the picture. If you’ve ever fumbled around trying to hang a picture on the nail, then you know this seemingly simple task can be surprisingly challenging (and very frustrating). Here’s how to do it on the first try. 

Hanging a picture with a wire hanger

In this video, LRN2DIY shows how to hang a frame with a wire hanger, using just a fork. 

• Grab a fork from your kitchen and place the tines over the nail in the wall such that the handle of the fork is pointing upward and angling outward from the wall toward you. 
• Place the wire from the picture frame over the fork handle and lower the picture down. The fork handle will guide the wire onto the nail. 
• Remove the fork and your picture is hung. 

Hanging a picture with a metal hanger

Those loop or triangle shaped metal hangers on the back of a frame can be particularly challenging given how small the hangar hole is. This hack from ken.c.long, which requires just a length of string, makes it easy:

• Cut a 2-foot length of string. 
• Drape the string over the nail then feed both ends upward through the hook on the back of the picture frame. 
• Grab the ends of the string at the top of the frame and carefully pull them upward, making sure to keep tension on the string between the nail and the frame. 
• The string will guide the hook onto the nail. 
• Drop one end of the spring then pull it out to remove it.