Behind nearly every picture frame I’ve hung are the remnants of my failed attempts — nail holes that ended up just a little too high, slightly too far apart or crooked enough that I had to start all over again. Most of them are hidden behind the frames themselves, serving as a quiet reminder that hanging artwork has never exactly been one of my strengths. But I might have found the perfect solution, and it only costs $30.I once read someone online describe their home as having “Swiss cheese walls” because of all the abandoned nail holes from hanging pictures. I’ve never felt so seen. The biggest challenge has always been frames with two hanging points. You know the ones. They’ve got hooks on both sides of the frame. Getting the spacing exactly right is one thing. Getting them perfectly level at the same time? Somehow, I always managed to mess up one or the other.Over the years, I’ve tried every trick I could find. My go-to method involved sticking painter’s tape across the back of the frame, marking where the hangers lined up with a Sharpie, then transferring the tape to the wall. Even then, I’d somehow wind up with a frame that leaned ever so slightly or refused to catch both nails.That’s when I stumbled across this $30 picture-hanging tool with a 4-star rating on Amazon — and honestly, it’s one of those gadgets that made me wonder why no one had thought of it sooner. Using it is refreshingly straightforward and a DIY-er’s dream. The sliding plastic nail indicators move along the attached ruler until they match the spacing of the hanging hardware on the back of your frame. Once everything is lined up, you simply press the tool against the wall to transfer the nail locations. A built-in bubble level helps ensure your frame will hang straight before you make a single hole.Alex Aronson/HuffPostAn example of the author's "Swiss cheese walls," and the finished look using the tool (on the first try).The included tacks (it comes with 80) can be pushed directly into the wall, but if you don’t push the nail completely into the wall, it works just as well for marking where screws or wall anchors should go if you’re hanging something heavier. I haven’t needed to use it that way yet, but it’s nice knowing it can pull double duty.Another feature I appreciate about this picture-hanging tool is the magnetic storage compartment tucked beneath the level. It keeps the tacks exactly where you need them, which means you’re not stuffing them into your pocket, balancing them between your teeth or searching the floor after dropping one halfway through the project. However, I don’t recommend storing more than a dozen nails in the compartment because there is only so much magnetized real estate.Once the artwork is up, the tool doesn’t become useless, either. When you slide the nail assist indicators off, it then becomes a regular ruler with an integrated level, which I’ve found myself reaching for to complete other projects around the house. If I have one complaint, it’s that I wish the ruler were a bit longer. At 15 inches, it works perfectly for the small- and medium-sized artwork I have hung, but larger pieces would benefit from more reach. Likewise, I wouldn’t rely on the included tacks alone for oversized mirrors or especially heavy frames. Those are better suited to wall anchors or screws, which is also reflected in many Amazon reviews.Fortunately, that’s a pretty minor gripe. For everyday artwork, family photos and decorative frames, this little tool takes almost all of the guesswork out of hanging pictures. More importantly, it has dramatically reduced the number of unnecessary holes I’m putting in my walls — and that’s reason enough for me to keep it in my toolbox. So long, Swiss cheese walls.Promising reviews: “Surprisingly useful for hanging multiple frames quickly. The built-in level and ruler make spacing and alignment much easier than using separate tools, and the magnetic nail holder is convenient. Works best for lightweight frames and standard drywall. I wouldn’t trust it alone for heavy mirrors or shelves, but for gallery walls and home decor it saves a lot of time. The plastic feels a bit cheaper than expected for the price, but overall it does what it’s supposed to do.” — Jay “The built‑in level, ruler, and press‑nail system work together to help you mark and hang frames with perfect alignment in just seconds. The magnetic design is especially helpful—it holds the nails securely in place so nothing falls while you’re positioning the tool. I love that you can install one or two nails at the same time, and the palm‑press feature means you don’t even need a hammer. It’s simple, accurate, and easy for one person to use, which makes it great for home, hotel, or office decorating. The kit includes 80 nails, giving you everything you need for multiple projects—frames, shelves, mirrors, and more. If you want a fast, clean, and frustration‑free way to hang décor, this tool delivers exactly that.” — Ethan Miller “I ordered this because I have a lot of frames to hang and a bad history of putting holes in the wrong spots. The tool is about 18 inches long and pretty light. It feels like orange plastic with some metal parts and it sits flat against the wall without much fuss. The ruler slides so you can set the width between two nail points and the bubble level is small but readable. There are little magnetic cups that hold the nails in place while you press them in. The 80 nails come in a bag and they load into the cups without much trouble. [...] The plastic does feel a little thin for the price and I have to press harder than I expected on some walls. But for a gallery wall situation where I am hanging six or eight small frames in a row it saves a fair amount of measuring and second-guessing.” — Amazon Customer