A Quick Fix for Keeping Picture Frames STRAIGHT on the Wall
April 10, 2026
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Try this simple trick to prevent crooked frames and artwork!
If you're constantly adjusting and fixing crooked frames on your walls, this little fix is for you. :)
My latest home project has involved hanging a LOT of picture frames. I started this DIY project years ago when I created a long gallery wall down the stair wall to our basement:
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I used these "float" frames for that wall. The pictures are placed between to pieces of glass and the wall color becomes the background, instead of a traditional photo mat.
We loved the look so much, I wanted to continue it on the opposite wall. Over the years I've picked up a few of the frames in various sizes when they go on sale. I finally started hanging them (that turned into a bigger project I'll share next week!).
I've shared a few picture hanging "hacks" over the years. One of my favorites is the painter's tape hanging trick to give you the perfect measurement between holes:
This is especially helpful for really large artwork or mirrors -- if you don't have a long level it's hard to get the placement of the holes just right on the wall.
I DO have a long level and still use this hack! :)
If you're hanging something heavy and there's no stud in that spot, an anchor is a must. It's such a small thing, but I hate drilling for typical anchors -- you have to find the right sized drill bit to match the anchor, then tap it in with a hammer.
Doesn't sound like much, but when I just want to hang something quickly it annoys me. 😂
Years ago I found these self-drilling anchors and they are all we use now:
They are SO much easier -- all you need is a drill or screwdriver to screw them right into the drywall. There are a number of options for different weight capacities as well.
By the way, home builders like to use giant anchors for everything -- if you've ever changed out a towel rod or hook you know! If you ever need to fill one of these huge holes, check out my tutorial for filling large holes in drywall without any special tools.
The painter's tape trick I shared above works great, but more often than not I will spend the time to change a frame that has two hangers on the back to a single sawtooth hanger like this one:
Not for super heavy items of course, but on small frames this is so much easier.
I prefer the ones that you can just hammer into the back of the frame (those teeny tiny nails are a pain), but I had this one in my tool stash.
The only problem with hanging frames with one nail is they move around a lot easier on the wall, especially in high traffic areas like our staircase.
There's a quick and easy fix for this problem, no matter how you hang your frames. I use this tacky mounting putty on the back of frames so they don't budge:
I've also used a version that comes in a blue color. I use this putty at lot during the holidays for temporary displays, but this tacky stuff also makes it so frames and mirrors don't move around once they're hung.
A little of this stuff goes a long way. Usually just a small bit is needed. I warm it up in my hand to soften it up before using:
I'm notorious for just eyeballing, and then stepping back and realizing art is SO crooked. For that reason, I always use a level for this process.
When you get the picture hanging right, just stick a little bit of the putty to the back of the frame. It doesn't matter where:
Keeping the level there, put some light pressure on the frame to get the putty good and stuck. Then you're done!
I recommend keeping the level on the art during this process because I've been known to push a little too hard to smush the putty and push it out of level again.
Side note: this LED level is amazing and has saved me so. much. time while working on DIY projects! It indicates with light if it's not level at all, almost there or perfectly straight:
I use this mounting putty on hanging items all over the house, not just to keep them level, but to keep them from banging all over when I clean the glass. {By the way, you'll want to store this stuff in a baggie so it doesn't dry out.)
Spending a few minutes securing your frames and artwork will save you a lot of "adjusting" time later!
This putty is especially helpful on a gallery wall like this where the frames are super close, because when one frame got messed up, they all seemed off:
You just need a tiny bit to secure each frame, and you can't see the putty at all when you're done:
For the first time in eight years, our frames have stayed put and I'm not adjusting them every week or so. I don't know why I didn't do this earlier!:
This is a simple helpful trick, especially in a high traffic area or if you have little kids to who like to adjust things. :) Have you tried this mounting putty?
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