Tons of people have written to request a step-by-step guide to painting wood paneling so we’re here to deliver the lowdown.
It’s one of the easiest ways to transform your room in an afternoon (and on the cheap) so get ready to do the happy dance because there’s virtually no skill or mind-numbing concentration required. Just look at what a little bit of primer, paint and elbow grease did for our den:
Oh paint, you’re the peanut butter to our jelly. Here’s the play by play for anyone who’s ready to say goodbye paneling (this works for either the real stuff of the thin “fake stuff”):
Step 1: Give Em’ The Brush Off. Fill any nail holes with caulk and once it dries sand it down and wipe away any cobwebs or dusty areas with a moist rag so your paneled walls are clean and ready for their big makeover. No overall sanding of the paneling is necessary unless yours is splintered (or otherwise needs to be smoothed out) or if it’s extra glossy (as if it has been shellacked).
Step 2: It’s Prime Time. Use a roller to apply one thin and even coat of oil-based primer and a paint brush to get into any cracks or corners that the roller can’t reach. This application might look spotty and uneven but as long as the entire surface is covered you’ll end up with a flawless finish. We do not recommend water-based primer for this step as oil-based formulas are stronger and more durable so no grease or wood stains will come through and ruin your finish.
Step 3: Get Your Paint On. Once your thin coat of oil-based primer dries, apply one thin and even coat of latex paint with a high quality roller and again use a paint brush to get into any cracks and crevices that the roller misses. And once your first thin and even coat dries, apply another one the same way for better coverage and long-lasting durability. And when it comes to getting a clean line along the ceiling and baseboards, blue painters tape works but we also love this short handled brush for the perfect edge every time.
Step 4: Hug It Out. You’re done! It’s really that easy. Feel free to snuggle your spouse, dance with the dog, or do anything else you normally do to celebrate a job well done. Your room should feel bigger, lighter, and oh so fresh- and that’s definitely deserving of a little victory cha-cha or two.
So there you have it. Our easy how-to-paint-paneling tutorial. It’s definitely one of the cheapest and most dramatic ways to snap a room into the 21st century in under $50, so don’t be surprised if you amass more hours of complements than it even took you to transform your room in the first place. What about you guys? Is there any paneling near you that’s about to be freshened up with some crisp clean paint? Does anyone have any other painting tips while we’re on the subject? Do tell.
And if you’re wondering how we painted all the dark brick in our den, check out the painting play by play right here. Happy makeovers to one and all!
lauren says
delurking.
oh my gosh oh golly goodness i would have never pictured that room looking that fabtastic. thank you for reminding me it’s all about the bones and not what i’m currently looking at. well done!
Bonnie says
My husband and I just finished painting our large, paneled family room- BOY, does it look better, and BOY, was it a lot of painting! But it looks three hundred percent better now; it really is amazing. We, too, also had ceiling beams to paint, and all the trim, and one wall of heavily textured plaster. Phew!
Megan says
Amazing difference! I love it now!
Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage says
Is that SERIOUSLY the same space? That’s A M A Z I N G! Love, love, love your vision!
Oh, this is my first time visiting and I love your blog. It definitely won’t be my last!
sarah says
Gorgeous! But can I ask why two diy gurus like you didn’t just remove the panelling and drywall? I ask only because my hubby and I have a similar-looking room that we’re going to try to tackle soon.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
We’re all about working with what we have when we can (less waste, less money spent, less effort, etc) so because our paneling was in good painting condition, keeping it was the perfect solution. Plus since two of the walls were brick and had raised and recessed grout lines the paneling balanced that nicely since it also had recessed seams. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Allie says
When we bought our house a year ago, the formal living room was dark paneling. After moving in I didn’t let a week go by before painting it a creamy white color. So much brighter!
But here’s a question…we have a textured ceiling in the room…not exactly a popcorn ceiling, but somewhere in between. Is my only option to tear it down and drywall it? I thought about installing beadboard but wasn’t sure how it would look with grooves on the walls and the ceiling.
Love the blog! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Allie,
We love the beadboard idea. You might have to scrape the textured ceiling a bit or even skim coat it to even it out first. I would swing through a home improvement store (maybe even with a photo of the ceiling) and ask a few experts what they recommend. Or even google around for a tutorial. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Emma says
Thanks for the response. I thought about all those things you suggested, but none of them can be done at this house. The room is extremely dark as it is.
I googled and found an idea. Using a staple gun, staple paintable wall paper to the paneling. Then, we can paint whatever color we want…which I just want plain white, because of the darkness in there. (this is our front room)
I think we are going to try.
YoungHouseLove says
Awesome solution. Good luck!
xo,
s
Kasey says
Love the after pictures! I’m working on getting my picture frame paneling painted in my living room. My painter wants to use a tinted oil based primer and one coat of oil based paint. The oil based paint scares me. I would like to use latex paint. He says it’s not durable enough, especially since we have a toddler and may need to wipe crayon marks off the wall someday. Would you be able to wipe clean your painted paneling, or would it destroy the paint job?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kasey,
The oil-based primer has made our painted paneling super durable- much more long lasting and wipe-able than the other unprimed walls in our house. That being said, oil-based paint is even more heavy-duty so it can’t really hurt. You just have to give it eons of time to dry because it can take a good week (so you don’t end up with a smudged and dented paint job from the get go). Oh and it helps to use oil-based paint with a ton of ventilation for the safety of you and your toddler so be sure to keep windows open and fans going for at least a few days until the smell goes away (you may even want to stay at a hotel or a friend’s house with the little one for a bit until things dry). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Joee says
Your transformation is amazing! We are just moving into a 70’s-80’s apartment here in Israel. There is a wall packed with vertical wood paneling that I want to paint. The previous renters painted each panel differently (yellow, mossy green, mustard etc) and I can’t stand it. We want to repaint it with a deep grey color. We bought a paint made especially for wood and metal (with alkyl) and the man told us that we do not need a primer anymore. Is this true or should I buy a primer anyway? Help!
YoungHouseLove says
Oil based primer is always the best insurane that your paint job will be flawless so that’s why we consistently recommend the specific steps above, but it’s really your call if you want to use the paint you already have and see how it all turns out or go for the added insurance of oil based primer first. Good luck!
xo,
s
Angie says
Your blog is so inspiring! I just bought a home that has knotty pine paneling in the lower level family room (24X20) and in one of the bedrooms (11X10). I was a little hesitant to paint the wood until I read your step-by-step guide. I now feel fully equipped — and plenty inspired — to transform my new space. Thank you! I will be reading your blog often as I work on my new home! :)
Anna says
What an AMAZING space. You have a great eye! May I ask what paint colors you used! I am planning to paint the wood paneling in a basement to make it into a family room and those shade would look fantastic with the furniture that’s going in there!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Anna,
The den walls were painted Wishes by Glidden except for the fireplace wall which got two coats of Water Chestnut by Glidden. Wishes is sadly one of the colors that Glidden has since discontinued, but the Home Depot paint guy should be able to look up the formula on the computer and whip up a batch for you. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
prettythings says
Nicole, I saw some fab throw pillows made from placemats from Home Goods and TJ Maxx! You can snag a few on clearance, buy some fill and sew them up easy-peasy. I have a few old placemats in my linen closet and next time I go to a craft store, I’m spending the $6 on fill for new pillows. :) hope that helps.
shea says
Hello my should be best friends! :) My friend raved about your blog and how in common our tastes were. I had never seen your home before and our kitchens are almost exactly alike! :) I’d love to send you some pics and get advice on more rooms! Along with the house plan… our brick home was built in 52. So funny! (so we should be BFF, right?) Quick question about your ceiling in this room, though … we appear to have a similar ceiling (tiled but stationary, without the metal skeleton) and would love to do something to them, other than replacement? Any ideas? wonder if we could just fill in the cracks with caulk and paint over it all? Any ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
We actually just painted ours after priming it for a more seamless look. Ours doesn’t have a metal frame either so now it really blends and looks sort of architectural. Hope it helps! Good luck with your 50s house!
xo,
s
kelly G says
This is what I plain on doing to my 2 rooms in my house the first room is my front room the problem is only one wall does not have no panel on it I was thinking about painting all one color how would it look knowing that the panel has grooves in it.This the same problem with the other room please let me know how you think it would look if I paint it one color instead of having a main wall i can send pictures to you if you like me to to give you a more idea thank you so much
YoungHouseLove says
I would paint everything the same color so it feels more cohesive. Go for it!
xo,
s
Jen says
Holy Crap! I CANNOT believe I am looking at the same room!!! We just bought a house where the ENTIRE family room, eating area off the kitchen, and even parts of the kitchen have paneling :( I initially was convinced we HAD to remove it, but these pics have convinced me otherwise! What is the cream color that you used? GREAT JOB!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
It’s Wishes by Glidden which has since been discontinued but you can ask the guys at Home Depot to look up the formula on their computer and whip up a gallon for you. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Linda says
Hi, I just found your blog and I think we have the same paneling. So after seeing how fantastic your den turned out I am ready to paint. My question is what paint finish did you use – flat, semi gloss, eggshell? I plan on following your step by step directions. What an inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! Definitely go for flat latex paint. It hides more imperfections and is just as wipe-able and durable thanks to the oil-based primer underneath. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Marina says
Hello again, I have one more Q for ya’- it looks like you also painted the window frame and sill in the process above. We plan to use oil based primer on the window followed by a white semi-gloss latex paint. Should we paint the window or the panels first? Any tips you can share on the topic would be much appreciated :)
Thanks and keep the How Tos coming!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Marina,
It’s a chicken or the egg situation. You can start with either (although we usually paint walls/paneling first and then finish with the trim). Oh and your plan to use oil-based primer followed by semi-gloss latex paint is perfect. Good luck!
xo,
s
Ashley says
Hi I have a couple of questions:
1) I have knots in my paneling. Would you suggest going over them with something like spackling or wood putty. (Do you think one would work better than the other?)
2) Also regarding painting furniture, is there anything wrong with using a oil based primer over something that that was previously painted with latex paint?
Thanks for your help, I love your site.
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! I would sand down the knots and fill them with wood putty. Then sand them again for a smooth finish. As for the oil-based primer, it works over any paint finish so you’re good to go with one even coat. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ashley says
Thanks. One more question, do you think I should use a water based wood putty, a solvent based wood putty, or an epoxy wood putty? Or is there a particular brand that you have used that you would recommend? I have never used wood putty before. Thanks again.
YoungHouseLove says
We like the Minwax wood putty that comes in a little round container with a screw on lid. We believe it’s water based, but whatever it is totally does the job, even when followed by oil- based primer. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Tara says
I love what you did to this room! It’s very inspirational! We have a similar living room. One wall is completely brick with a fireplace. All of the other walls have paneling on the bottom of the walls. We painted the walls a muted lime green color to brighten up the dark room. Would you suggest painting the brick wall, brown paneling and window trim white? or off white?
Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Tara,
I would definitely go for white on the paneling and the trim for a crisp updated look. Try Benjamin Moore’s Decorators White which is clean but not too stark and bare. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Holly says
How cute is your house??! I am new to your site, but must have visited a million times in the last week!
L-O-V-E it.
We have a brick fireplace in our kitchen/eat in area that I cannot stand. I am motivated to paint it, but nervous because it is not ‘uniform brick’ like yours. It is made of different sizes of brick and is quite textured (almost stone like).
Also, my kitchen is a fairly bright yellow. Do you think painting the brick white or off white would make it stand out too much?
Thanks and keep up the great work.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Holly,
I would definitely go for it! We’ve seen amazing designers like Thom Filicia paint brick fireplaces that aren’t uniform (just like the one you describe) and the result is always amazing. I would go with one of three colors: 1) white like the trim to keep things light and open, 2) a very pale shade of yellow that coordinates with the walls so it feels crisp and almost white but has the same undertone as the wall, or 3) mocha or chocolate- it sounds crazy but it can look really rich, especially in a semi-gloss or even high-gloss finish. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Holly says
Thanks for your advice. I think I’m going with white! But, I really love the high-gloss chocolate idea and plan on using it on the fireplace in my master bedroom. Thanks again!
Betsy Denning says
I painted my knotty pine basement room (about 12 x 15) and it took forEVER. It was a lot of work, but maybe I’m just a wimp. ;-) It does look a thousand times better than the old paneling though.
YoungHouseLove says
Congrats Betsy! We’re so glad it worked out for you and it sounds like it was definitely worth the effort!
xo,
s
Holly says
Hi Again, Sherry.
I painted my brick/stone (whatever it was) fireplace over the weekend. I used Decorators White…but it was too stark white so i painted it Wishes. I LOVE it. Even my husband (a huge skeptic) can’t believe the transformation. Thank you for giving me the confidence to do it!! :)
My only problem is that the newly painted wall is flanked on either side by my kitchen (Hawthorne Yellow) and my family room (Diverse Beige by SW). I love the new wall now, but don’t feel like the rooms really flow together. It seems so choppy. Maybe I should paint my kitchen a more neutral color? Ugh. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again.
you rock. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Holly,
Ooh the Wishes sounds lovely. Great choice! If you’re worried about your kitchen not flowing you could certainly paint that room in Wishes or Diverse Beige for a closer palette that really helps both rooms feel seamless and open to one another. You could also live with the Hawthorne Yellow for a bit because we’ve found that it takes the eye about a week to adjust to new changes so you might just be reacting to something that looks “different” and not necessarily “bad” at all. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Verenice says
Wow, it is beyond amazing. I have been debating painting my paneled bedroom, but have been scared of messing it up. Now that I see your pictures I’m pretty sure its the best way to go. Even if it only turns out half as nice as yours I’ll be very pleased.
MommaRuth says
Hello! I am new to your website- and I love it!
We may move into an older home that has paneling in the living room. It has a vaulted ceiling, and the paneling goes most of the way up the wall, and there is trim along the top of the paneling, all around the room. My question is what to do with the trim, and what to do with the remaining wall. All one color? Two tone? What about the trim?
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Ruth
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ruth,
We’re actually fans of the all-one-color approach since different tones can fragment a room and make it feel not as tall and a bit smaller and less expansive. In fact we would probably pick a nice light-ish netural color and paint the walls, trim and even the ceiling in that room all the same color for a domed and airy look. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ruth says
Hello again! Thanks for the advice! One more question- there are beams along the ceiling, like your den pic. I’d like to keep them as is for visual intrest. Would that look bad?
Ruth
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ruth,
No way it’ll look great! Just paint the rest of the room and see how they look. If you feel like they’re a bit dark and heavy you can tone them down with a whitewashed look (which is still rustic and brings out the grain in the wood while lighting things up). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
ruth says
Thank you so much! We’ll see what happens!
Harmony says
I’m SO excited to have found your site! You have beautiful, inexpensive ideas, and I can’t believe how detailed and helpful all of your posts are. I’ve been looking for a new site to be addicted to since I got married and had to quit Style Me Pretty ( I still look sometimes, but my husband makes fun of me!) and yours is definitely the winner:-)
And now for my question: you said to use a “high quality roller.” Do you have any suggestions about brands or types? Do you reuse yours over and over, or get a new one for each job?
Thanks!
~Harmony
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Harmony,
Rollers can be rinsed and reused but we find that picking up a new one each time guarantees a nice clean finish and we don’t mind spending a few more dollars for those flawless results. As for what type of roller we like, Purdy makes some great ones (available at Home Depot and Lowe’s among many other home improvement stores) and we especially like the Purdy White Dove which is made from woven dralon fabric so it’s lint free and made for smooth and semi smooth surfaces. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Laura says
How beautiful and inspiring. Now, where is your “how-to guide” on convincing your husband to go along with it?
:-)
Laura
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Laura,
Maybe this post (written by the hubby himself) will help: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/03/email-answer-have-husband-will-decorate/
xo,
Sherry
Liz says
Hi there! I was hoping for your opinion on a paint color for our brick fireplace. I’ve been saying for a long time that I want to paint it and my husband has been resisting, saying it would ruin it. I think I may finally have him convinced after finding your site and showing him your before/after. Our living room is painted Ben Moore’s Concord Ivory. We have white trim on the windows, baseboards, moldings etc. However, I’m not sure if pure white would be too stark for the fireplace since it is such a focal point. What do you think? Should we opt for something more off-white/creamy, or would that look odd considering the rest of the trim in the room is white? Looking forward to your input! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Liz,
The good news is that you probably can’t go wrong either way! If your gut is saying something a bit warmer than stark white will tickle your fancy why not bring home a lot of swatches to see which one suits your tastes. Either way it’ll look crisp and lovely in the end. Good luck!
xo,
s
Mayra says
We our painting our WHOLE house (all has wood paneling). We painted one of our girls bed room, and used the BIN primer, but found that way too strong, since we do have small children, for our 2nd daughters we used Kilz oil-based odorless, and after being all done painting we noticed it had bled through.
We’d like to go without having to use the BIN, can you tell us what exact primer you used (since I notice the light colored paint), we have a living room, bedroom and hallway to finish. I would so greatly appreciate it.
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! We used Kilz oil-based primer. It’s pretty stinky so we kept fans on and windows open and the smell dissipated pretty quickly. You could also try to arrange for your kids to have a play date at another house while you paint and leave fans on/windows open so that things are pretty aired out when they return. We totally understand your frustration about wanting to use something a bit milder (and less stinky) but it’s the worst when things bleed through (because you pretty much have to go back to square one- and the stinky stuff- to fix it). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mayra says
Thanks so much for answering so quickly:) Will be exchanging for the smelly stuff.
Carol says
Years ago I wallpapered over my 70’s dining-room paneling. I followed someone’s instructions and filled in the grooves with some kind of spackle and painted the paneling with something so that the paper would stick. I can’t stand the wallpaper anymore and wish I had simply painted. I don’t want to paint the wallpaper. I’d like to tear off the paper and then paint and I’m wondering what kind of mess I might be in for. Have you had any experience with this situation. If the paper comes off okay, will I be able to just paint? Your blog has been very helpful and inspiring.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Carol,
We don’t really have any way of knowing for sure what you’re in for but stripping the wallpaper (maybe try a steamer to make fast work of it?) is definitely the first step. Then depending on what you’re dealing with, you might just be able to sand things until they’re relatively smooth and just use oil-based primer and two coats of paint for a totally fresh look. Will it be easy? Probably not. Worth it? Heck yeah.
xo,
s
Elle says
Hello! My husband and I just bought our first home and have one room that is just ugly. There really is no other word to nicely describe it. It is the first room you walk into and it’s just sad. The flooring is like a salmon colored tile (mind you I live in Indiana) and it looks like it was done by an amateur. If the sun is shining in the huge wonderful window you can see that it has a “rolling” affect. To top off the tile, the whole room has a light wood paneling and built-in shelves (which are not in good shape). The whole room blends into each other and just makes me sad when I walk in the door.
We are not able to completely remodel the room yet, so in the mean time we have purchased a remnant and had in made into a rug. It’s a tan shag style and really warms up the room. We moved our tv and put in on the built-ins which makes it nice when watching a movie, feels like we are in a theatre. We have decided to paint the paneling until we are able to rip it all out and drywall.
What are some tips for deciding on paint color? It’s about a 12×16 room with some extra for the entryway area.
Please help us make this room more appealing to look at!
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Elle,
Here’s a post that should help. It’s all about picking the right paint color and even has lists of all of our favorite tried and true colors so you just have to bring home some swatches that we list and see which ones work for your space. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Taylor says
Hello,
The room looks great…My question is actually concerning the window in the first picture…Did you also paint your window’s and trim? I was looking at your pictures before and it was a darker color..The reason I ask is that we have old wood paneling and a dark brick fireplace we are going to paint…It is a average sized sun room and has dark wood windows and trim along the windows. They are nice Anderson windows so we don’t really want to replace all of them if we could paint..It seems like this would be very time consuming to paint white..I’d love to know if you had any tips or secrets.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Taylor,
Yes, we did paint all of the dark trim a crisp white semi-gloss color (Benjamin Moore’s Decorators White). And we have a secret weapon, a specific paint brush (read more about it here) that makes quick work if it. The effect is totally worth the effort!
xo,
Sherry
Taylor says
Thanks for your help!I think were gonna to give it a try and paint the windows using your suggestions.
Thanks again,
Taylor
Allison says
Hi Sherry and John,
I have read all of this blog and the comments, but I do not understand what types of ‘stains’ you are referring to when suggesting an oil based primer. I have lots of wood panels to paint and about 10 litres of latex primer left from other projects and would like to use it if possible. Is the danger of using latex primer the fact that I might need more coats? For what type of ‘stains’ should I inspect my walls?
Thanks again for your great advice on all things DIY. Happy New Year!
Allison.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Allison,
Good question! If your paneling is anything other than plain wood with clear poly in top (for example it has been stained a honey color to bring out the wood) the actual wood stain (which is not compatible with latex primer) could bleed through it causing ugly honey colored watermarks (which oil-based primer will prevent). If you’re not sure if your wood has any stain on it, you can test a spot by using water-based primer and let it fully dry to see if it bleeds through. You have to wait until everything thoroughly dries (stains don’t come through right away, but within 48 hours they should). If they don’t come through you can go ahead with your water based stuff and if it does, oil-based primer is the way to go. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
MattM says
Hi Sherry,
Love the site. My wife and I have just moved into a place with wall-to-wall-to-ceiling(!) panelling.
Anything different you’d suggest for painting the ceilings?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Matt,
Nope, it’s exactly the same process with the same materials (definitely use a flat finish in the latex paint for the ceiling since that hides more imperfections than semi-gloss paint). Oh and be sure to cover the floor to protect it from primer and paint drips and to purchase one of those roller extender rods for easier application. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jenny Boffy says
By the way your website is such an inspiration :)
What color paint did you use on the paneling? Is it a frost or something darker?
Thanks so much!
Jenny Boffy
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jenny,
Here’s the rundown on all of the paint colors we used throughout our entire house: https://www.younghouselove.com/2007/12/watching-paint-dry/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Annie D says
Would this technique work on wood paneling that seems to be laminate?
Tim Turner says
Hello,
Thanks for the site. My question is, do the lines show after you have caulked, primed and painted the paneling. I don’t see any lines on your project. What kind of caulking should I use? Great job!
YoungHouseLove says
Just like painted brick, the lines in our paneling show since we didn’t do any caulking. We don’t mind the subtle texture and we love the look. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Allison says
Fisrtly thanks so much for the instructions here!! After removing two layers of wallpaper, masking tape that covered each groove in the wood paneling and its gummy residue (thanks to Goo Gone!), I successfully painted the wood panels in our little half bathroom. Yeah!
But I respectfully urge YHL to keep it real and reconsider the claim in your first paragraph that this can be achieved ”in an afternoon” – since to begin with, the oil based primer had a drying time of 16 hours, plus two coats of paint that needed at least 4 hours to dry. Not to mention the amount of time painting each groove took!
I loved the oil based primer and we chose a lovely colour called ‘Summer Day’ and it is great – but I will really need to get pumped up to tackle an entire rec room…but at least there is no wallpaper there! ;-)
Thanks for the great tips and for replying to my questions. Have fun with your nursery project, guys, and stay healthy, Sherry!!
YoungHouseLove says
We actually did ours in just a few hours so that claim actually comes from personal experience! We just waited for the primer to dry for about an hour before following it with two coats of the latex paint (pretty much in rapid succession since by the time we finished applying one it had dried on the other side of the wall so we could start there on the second coat). The entire process for us was truly completed in an evening (not an afternoon, since we did it after work) but overall it took just four hours or less. Perhaps it depends on your primer’s drying time (and on whether you even read those or not- since we’re pretty sure we just waited for it to be dry to the touch and started in with our coats of paint). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Bradley Pounds says
Wow that’s really amazing! I’m a real estate agent in Austin, Texas, and the painted wood paneling conversation is one that comes up often for me as many of the first-time homebuyer options around here are early 1970’s homes with plenty of the stuff. You did such a good job that I’ve included a link to your post on my blog at http://www.bradleypounds.com. Thanks again!
Dawn says
I have become obsessed with your site!! I am currently house hunting on a small budget and HATE when I walk into a room full of paneling ( it is way more popular then I ever knew) but, thanks to this I have no more “hate” for paneling. You have some brilliant ideas!! I can’t wait to paint a floor too!!
Laura says
We primed our paneling and picked the color. Now we’re debating whether to go with flat, eggshell, or semi-gloss. What is your preference? It’s for our finished basement.
Thanks so much! Love your advice!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Laura,
We have flat throughout most of out house, except for splash-prone rooms like the bathrooms and kitchen where we have semi-gloss. We just recently used eggshell in the nursery since we’ll probably appreciate the extra wipe-ability to get little grubby handprints off. So depending on who’s using the basement we’d say either flat or eggshell will do the trick.
-John
Aimee says
Great blog!
I have a question about re-painting wood paneling that is peeling. Our wood paneling was painted by the prior homeowners most likely without being primed. Every time anything bumps the wall, the paint peels off. We would like to paint the wood paneling again for a fresh look and to fix the areas where the paint has peeled off. Do we need to get the paint off before we prime and paint? Or is there a way to “patch” the peeling areas and then prime and paint?
I can see where the prior owners tried painting on top of prior peeling areas and you can see an outline of where the paint had come off.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
You definitely need to sand down or use a chemical stripper to get that wall as smooth as possible before painting. Otherwise it’s just all going to peel off since the foundation isn’t strongly adhered to the paneling. Just visit your local home improvement store and tell them what’s going on. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Leona says
I have very old and marked up paneling (the cheap stuff) I desprately want to paint. You have said to use caulk to fill the holes but I’ve also read some that say to use wood filler which is better? No where have I read what to do with those thin strips of molding butting up the panels, paint ’em or remove ’em. I have alot of broken and missing strips so I would probably remove them, then what do I do to cover the gaps, please help the weather is warming up and I really would like to make this my spring project.
YoungHouseLove says
You can use wood filler if you’d like- it should work just as well as caulk (we just went the caulk route, so we listed that in our tutorial since it worked for us). As for what to do with the thin strips of molding butting up to the panels, you can either paint them or remove them – it’s really your call and it’s all about what you think will be more aesthetically pleasing. Of course if you remove them and are left with a bunch of gaps you’ll want to use either wood filler, caulk or some other filler (like putty) so just visit your local home improvement center to ask them what they recommend for the job. Good luck!
xo,
s
Leona says
Wow, quick response thanks so much.
Putty wont shrink as it dries? I’ve read that somewhere in my researce too.
YoungHouseLove says
Different types of putty will perform differently, that’s why it’s important to visit your local home improvement store and ask one of the experts to read the backs of all the products to help you settle on the right stuff for the job. There are definitely paintable and non-paintable caulks (you want paintable of course) and a bunch of other options when it comes to wood filler and putty (shrinking and non-shrinking) so the main thing is to read labels and ask for an expert opinion right there in the store. It should be really easy to track down something that works. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Leona says
Hi me again,
Just full of questions, one more please
I have a hole in the wall, about 2 inches long and 1 wide, all the way through, the wall board is exposed how do I fix that, wood filler too or drywall tape and compound?
You have been a big help I will be back often with my questions.
YoungHouseLove says
If you’re dealing with that hole in your paneling you’ll probably want to go with wood filler (again, visit your home improvement store and read the labels to be sure you get something that won’t shrink and is 100% paintable). If you’re talking about a hole in your drywall, then you’ll want to use spackle (we like Dap Crackshot spackle- which we’ve used a ton of times without incident). Good luck!
xo,
s