Designing a gallery wall is all fun and games until you get to the actual picture-hanging part. Before you know it, there are several “mistake” holes poked into your drywall, and you find yourself rearranging the entire gallery wall in order to hide or incorporate them into the design. If only there was a simple way to nail picture hanging (pun intended). Well, thanks to TikTok, now there is.
Known mainly for Gen Z dance challenges and skits, TikTok user AliyaRinaldi uploaded a different kind of video than her usual programming to the platform last week. Aliya showed followers how to hang pictures correctly—using toothpaste.
“So, this is a life hack from my mom, who’s an interior designer,” Aliya said in the voiceover of her video. She then instructs viewers to put a dab of toothpaste on the back of the frame where the nail is supposed to meet the hanging hardware.
Then, using the toothpaste as a stamp, lightly place the frame on the spot where you want it to be. This should leave a little toothpaste mark on the wall. Hammer the nail into the middle of the toothpaste spot and wipe away the excess.
“Hang your photo up and it’ll be exactly where you want it to be every single time,” she says. And with over 170,000 likes, this hack seems to resonate with others. It’s kind of one of those “duh!” moments where you go, why didn’t I think of that?
Of course, you don’t have to use toothpaste—really any creamy product would work. Just make sure that it will come off your wall easily without leaving a stain (or bad smell) behind.
Gallery wall, you’re no longer as scary as you once were.
