ALIGN EASILY YOUR PICTURE FRAMES ON THE WALL !

You've decided to hang up your picture frames and have with them a full decorative element for your home... You've choose their arrangement...

But there is a problem to solve : How to align the frames on the wall ? if you do not pay attention, there is always a frame not perfectly aligned with the others...

A small brilliant instrument

For a few cents ... you'll be able to build a small tool in less than 2 minutes that will prove very useful when you hang your paintings on the wall.

A cleat 2" wide and 20" long ... a 2" nail half down inside ... That's all! And with this, you'll make all possible settings : height of the frame and spacing!

Put your tool behind the frame ... hook the string or the ring on the nail... hold with the cleat and move on the wall.

When your frame is properly aligned ... press a little harder the nail against the wall ... the nail leaves a small mark : that is exactly where you'll put the hook!

Obviously, it's even easier if you're two people... one that moves the frame, the other looks and guide ..!

Small thing ... We often need to materialize the base line to properly align the frames ... Here's how ...

Capture your horizontal line (or vertical) by planting two headed pins in the wall (by measuring or with a level)... then stretch a sewing thread between these two pins. When finished, remove the pins: the holes are not visible!

The Grand Luxe ... laser levels.

If you are a handyman (or will become), if you have a house you're renovating ... so do not hesitate to invest in a laser level!

There are in all price ranges (for 15 € for the Chinese one... but I do not advise you because they are not the most practical or most accurate) in all brands.

Some have only red points (not very interesting for our problem) while others are rotating ... You must prefer those which project colored lines, one at a time, horizontal (and vertical by pivoting) or even better: two simultaneous lines, one vertical and one horizontal.

Then you just project onto the wall the "cross" base, the horizontal line that intersects the vertical line, and align the edges of the frames (or others following the layout you've chosen).

It's too simple and even a single person can easily align the frames on the wall with this system.

Again, the small alignment tool described above will give you a great help! Your alignment is projected onto the wall and you move your frames until they find their proper place.

Obviously, a laser level can be used in many other circumstances to lay the tile for example, is the ideal start to upright the first row! If you have kitchen units to be installed ... Again the laser will be useful to align perfectly on the high elements ...

Another use? Yes ! the installation of wallpaper ... This saves you the plumb line (the string is still confused and full of knots!) and ensures the verticality of your first strip ! And in addition if you have a small pool to install, horizontal in your garden ...

You can find equivalent models (like this) in all major DIY stores. This one is very sophisticated to just under € 60 (note that is sold without feet ... provide € 35 extra).

How to have your frames plumbed !

Your picture framess are perpetually askew ... each time you pass, you rectify them ... and for the next time it's the same thing, they're again askew !

To have quite plumbed picture frames it is initially necessary to prefer the fixing strings to the rings. You can always adjust a frame suspended hung with a string.

Then, to prevent them moving all alone, put a small "pearl of patafix” behind the frame, in the middle of the bottom moulding . That will not move any more!

!

If you do not have patafix, fold a piece of adhesive tape 3 times on itself and paste it to the bottom of the frame the same way.

You can also use a small piece of double-sided adhesive ...

Some very useful books Deco

Domino : The book of decorating
Deborah Needleman, Dara Caponigo  

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Big Ass Book of Crafts
Mark Montano, Auxy Espinoza

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The Big-Ass Book of Crafts is packed with ideas for sprucing up your living space; concocting fabulous, all-natural body products; designing your own unique stationery...