The picture-hanging trick you need to know

However, the act of hanging picture frames on the wall is one of those super simple tasks that can go pear shaped very quickly. From not selecting your position well, drilling in the wrong spot, cracking the plaster, or hanging the frame crookedly, there are a multitude of things that can go wrong. No matter how handy you are, everyone has likely struggled with a getting a painting into the perfect spot.

One of the most difficult parts of picture-hanging comes after you’ve put the hook into the wall. Yes, actually managing to get the string on the back of the painting to go over the hook properly can be extremely tough, especially when you’ve got a precious or expensive painting at stake! There’s never enough space between the picture and the wall to slip a hand in, and you also can’t visualise the hook to see that the string is safely on the hook.

Even if you feel the resistance of the string against the hook, it can be difficult to tell whether it’s on properly, or merely caught precariously on the tip, ready to fall to the floor the moment someone shuts a door a little too hard.

Next time you hang a picture, try this simple trick:

Place a fork over the hook, prongs down so it stays in place and the handle is sticking up. Now, you can simply slip the frame’s string over the fork handle and lower it over the hook. It will go on every time, and you can simple pull the fork out afterwards.

This article originally appeared on Starts at 60.