Hanging frames on your wall can either be a walk in the park, or your worst nightmare (which depending on your nightmares, could be one in the same, but I digress). See how to hang frames with the dreaded "two hook" back, easily and on the first try after the jump.
Hanging frames on the wall is relatively straight forward unless you are dealing with something tricky like plaster or concrete. It can however, become quite complicated when faced with a frame that has not one, but two hooks on the back. Follow these few easy steps and you'll be able to hang pictures successfully on the first try.
Supplies:
- Frame
- Small Nails
- Hammer
- Level
- Marker
- Masking Tape
- Scissor
To start, measure a length of masking tape that is just longer than the distance between the two hooks. We use a low tack (meant for auto painting) masking tape, but anything you have on hand will do!)
Next, using your marker or writing utensil of choice, mark a line at the top of the hook (to get the exact distance between the two hooks).
Then, pull the masking tape off the frame and cut each end at the mark you made.
Take your masking tape to your wall and using a level, balance out the tape from side to side. Then, press the tape against the wall.
Remove the tape from the wall and stick it to the back of your frame. This way you will have it next time you want to relocate your frame and won't have to repeat the previous steps. We drew teeth on ours because we have a weird thing with inanimate objects looks like faces... and Sharpie Markers always entertain us (because deep down we're really 8).
Now that your nails are up, simply hang your frame on the wall. Stand back to admire your handy work and then find yourself a refreshing beverage... you deserve it for a job well done!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Genius!
I wish I'd have known this before I had to hang a huge, heavy wall shelf!
view repressd's profile
excellent!
view Ana's profile
I was hoping this post was going to explain how to actually hang the picture on the wall on the first try, not just how to put the nails in the wall. I have a problem lining up the hooks and the nails, especially when you can't see where the hooks are like the ones on this frame in the tutorial.
view brookberrys's profile
Simplicity. The only other hint I had used before was to put lipstick onto the hooks then press into the wall, and leave a mark of the lipstick behind.
view AZkathy's profile
genius!
view excentric's profile
hey, that's a sweet trick!
view kdkaboom's profile
Perfect timing! That's my Labor Day activity. Thank you!
view mollywtx's profile
Don't get the point.
Use a level with scale - measure the distance between the hooks - hammer the nails in.
Why use a tape? *confused*
view Blue Helmet's profile
I'm with Blue Helmet. It's not that difficult and shouldn't dreaded, since the art stays level if you do it right. If you only use one nail, your art will get off-kilter.
view visualingual's profile
This will only work if the hooks on the back are straight. If you or someone else did it (rather than the store/factory) and they're not level, if the nails on the wall are straight the picture will hang crooked.
view Mrs.Mack's profile
Also be aware that hooks are not always level on the frame itself, so even if the distance between your nails is correct, and they are nailed at exactly the same height, your frame may still hang crookedly. I had that problem while I was hanging a long horizontal mirror =P
view JH4285's profile
What?
Why go through all this trouble?
I just thread the holes with picture-framing wire, knock a nail in the suitable place in the wall, hang, and bam, done!
view *heather leaf*'s profile
At AT, no good deed goes unpunished...
view quiltmaster's profile
*heatherleaf*- That is a fantastic idea, I think I'll have to give that a try. Thanks for sharing it!
-Sarahrae
view sarahrae's profile
I'm with heatherleaf. And if you don't want your art to get "off kilter", put two nails (spread apart) in the wall and hang the wire on both nails. It won't wobble.
view Mrs.B's profile
Or... just get some hanging wire and do it with one nail... on the first try.
view FreddyNYC's profile
Mrs. Mack makes an excellent point. I have painstakingly measured and leveled only to realize that the hooks on the back of the frame were not exactly straight. This is often the case if the frame is purchased at some kind of open market where human error is more of a factor than it is with manufactured goods from department stores.
view KS NY's profile
wish i had seen this before i hung up my framed ork poster yesterday. fortunately a laser level and a ruler worked just as well.
view japinthegap's profile
Heatherleaf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how many walls where I have lived have holes all over the place, right next to each other/above each other..(just a little bit)..due to my beloved Kennedy beach home framed art .with the two hangers...now..no more!!! little things ya just don't think of....
view keeks's profile
i thought the post was genius, then i read the comments. threading the hooks, one nail...bah!! brilliant!!
even better for simple people like myself!
p.s. the post is still MAS helpful!
view mander-ella's profile
D'OH!! Why didn't I think of that!!!
view nazrd's profile
Why not just attach picture-hanging wire between the two hooks and hang from the wire? I thought that's what the hooks were there for.
view zhasmene's profile
Sorry about the repeat comment, I just refreshed the page and saw all the others.
view zhasmene's profile
@everyone who suggested hanging a wire through two hooks, not a good idea when it comes to heavy, large (and expensive) artwork. Sometimes you need two hooks to support the frame evenly
view Drops of Jupiter's profile