DIYs How to Fix a Crooked Picture Frame

If you have artwork that’s askew it can be so frustrating. Here’s a simple tip for how to fix a crooked picture frame.

A woman with blonde hair stands observing how to fix a crooked picture frame among two framed botanical illustrations on a dark blue wall.

Last fall I had a magazine come and photograph the house.

(I know, right? I LOVE typing those words).

It comes out in a couple of months and I can’t WAIT for you to see it.

To get ready, I added extra pumpkins and fluffed the pillows and deep cleaned the windows and added leaves to the outside porch and tried to make a pumpkin topiary which was an epic fail.

When the photographer showed up?

My house and I were ready.

There were lights and cameras and tripods and extra ordinary care taken with every photograph.

And when it was over?

I sunk down into the feather pillows on the couch in the living room with a big bottle of lemonade and gave a giant sigh of relief.

Whew.

It was finished.

It was over.

But then all of a sudden, to my absolute chagrin…

….I looked up and noticed I had forgotten THIS.

A cozy corner featuring a striped chair with decorative cushions, a vintage white sideboard with a vase of white flowers, and blue artwork in golden frames against a dark blue textured wall.

Do you notice anything?

Does anything jump out at you with this picture?

Are you adjusting your screen?

Don’t worry. It’s not you.

Two framed botanical prints featuring blue flowers and leaves against a white background, mounted on a dark blue wall.

It’s this.

Framed artwork that’s slightly askew.

Yep.

And when I saw the frames tilted after he left I sighed and hoped that somehow someway they were cropped out of the pictures.

Now to be fair—this is a recreation. It wasn’t this bad after the photographer left. I recreated it for this post.

But trust me.

Even a tiny bit of slant on these blue and white lithographs is noticeable because they hang on navy blue walls and the prints are white.

Just between us? These frames are kind of the bane of my existence. There are actually 12 of them in this room. There are four on this side and eight on the side of the room that goes into the living room. And it is IMPOSSIBLE to keep them all straight. They hang on one nail and there’s always an errant frame that needs to be fixed. If I had a dime for every frame in this room that I straightened, I would be a gazillionaire.

But now?

I have a solution for those crooked frames.

how to fix a crooked picture frame

White circular stickers neatly arranged on a sheet over a black and white patterned background.

//use these to fix a crooked picture frame //

This clear tack adhesive dots.

THE STICK is so good.

And they are flat so the artwork lays flat against the wall (unlike masking tape or other adhesives where it can stick out from the wall).

And you can see the set of dots here.

Close-up of a guitar pick stuck in the strings of an acoustic guitar, with a patterned blue and white background partially visible.

//use these to fix a crooked picture frame //

I just used two on the bottom corners.

You peel them off the piece of paper and stick them onto the edge of the frame.

Then you peel off the top.

A woman with blonde hair stands observing how to fix a crooked picture frame among two framed botanical illustrations on a dark blue wall.

And stick.

THAT’S IT.

No more crooked frames.

I wish I would have thought of this last year before the house was photographed.

But I’m so thankful I fixed them before the graduation party next weekend.

White circular stickers neatly arranged on a sheet over a black and white patterned background.

//use these to fix a crooked picture frame //

Here’s the thing though, they come in a set of 350.

Yikes.

Who has that many picture frames?

So in an attempt to be creative and not wasteful, I thought of 10 other uses for the clear adhesive dots here:

Organizing Cables: Stick a dot to the back of your desk or entertainment center and attach cables to keep them neat and organized. This prevents them from tangling or slipping off surfaces.
Hanging Decorations: Use sticky dots to hang lightweight decorations, such as streamers, paper lanterns, or garlands, from ceilings or walls.
Securing Tablecloths: Keep tablecloths in place during outdoor events or picnics by placing sticky dots along the edges to prevent them from blowing away in the wind.
Preventing Slipping: Place sticky dots on the bottom of lightweight items, such as vases or decorative pieces, to prevent them from slipping or sliding on smooth surfaces like tables or shelves.
DIY Bulletin Board: Create a makeshift bulletin board by sticking a piece of fabric or corkboard to a wall with sticky dots. You can then use more dots to pin notes, reminders, or photos to the surface.
Holding Ribbon in Place: When wrapping gifts or crafting, use sticky dots to hold ribbon or twine in place on the package (so PROFESSIONAL).
Securing Drawer Liners: Keep drawer liners in place by attaching sticky dots to the corners or edges of the liner and pressing them onto the bottom of the drawer. This prevents the liner from sliding around when opening and closing the drawer.
Making Cards: Use sticky dots to layer paper or cardstock in three-dimensional art projects. Stack multiple dots to create depth and dimension in collages, scrapbooks, or handmade cards.
Creating DIY Magnets: Turn lightweight objects, such as decorative buttons or small toys, into magnets by attaching them to sticky dots and then adhering magnetic strips to the back.
Securing Drawer Organizers: Keep drawer organizers in place by applying sticky dots to the bottom corners of the organizers and pressing them firmly onto the inside of drawers. This prevents the organizers from shifting or sliding around.

You could also use them to attach things to flower pots, like labels, etc.

The ideas just keep coming.

(I just thought of that because I’m looking at flower pots at this exact moment.)

A stylish dining room featuring dark blue walls, patterned curtains, a white dining table with chairs, and a crystal chandelier. a vase with pink flowers adds a splash of color.

Elegant dining room featuring a white table with chairs, a crystal chandelier above, dark patterned wallpaper, and framed artworks on the walls, with a fresh flower centerpiece.

Elegant dining room featuring dark blue walls, a white dining table set, classic chandelier, and large windows with patterned curtains. a vintage white cabinet and decorative items enhance the cozy, stylish space.