on June 07, 2026
A crooked frame is one of the most immediately noticeable problems in a room. It undermines every other design decision on the wall. Levelling frames correctly the first time takes a few extra minutes. Fixing a frame that won't stay level takes considerably longer.
The Right Tool
A spirit level. Not your eye, not the edge of a phone — a spirit level. Even a small, inexpensive one is more reliable than any other method. A frame that looks level from one angle often doesn't from another; a spirit level removes the ambiguity.
For a gallery wall with multiple frames, a laser level is worth the investment. It projects a horizontal reference line across the entire wall, so every frame in a row can be hung to the same precise height without re-measuring for each one.
Why Frames Go Crooked
Frames go crooked for three reasons: the hanging wire is off-centre, the fixing point is slightly wrong, or the frame is being pushed out of level by something behind the wall.
A hanging wire that's not centred on the frame back will cause the frame to hang at a slight angle regardless of how carefully the fixing is placed. Check the wire position before hanging — it should be centred on the horizontal axis of the frame. Adjust the wire attachments if it isn't.
Keeping Frames Level
The most reliable way to keep a frame level after hanging is to add small felt pads or rubber bumpers to the bottom two corners of the frame back. These create slight friction between the frame and the wall, preventing the gradual rotation that causes frames to drift crooked over time — particularly on smooth painted walls.
Two-point hanging — two hooks or D-rings rather than a single central wire — is more stable than single-point hanging. The frame rests on two fixed points rather than balancing on a single central point, which means it's less likely to rotate.
For a Gallery Wall
In a gallery wall with multiple frames, one crooked frame is enough to make the whole arrangement look wrong. Check the level of every frame immediately after hanging, before moving to the next. It's easier to adjust a single frame while you're already at that position than to come back to it later.
A level checked once after hanging and once the following morning — when the fixing has settled into the wall — is the most reliable process.
Browse ONE MAAY's picture frame collection.
