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!
Willow says
Thanks SO much for the help!!! I am getting ready to paint the area where my Washer/Dryer, Furnace area, and hot water heater are (to make it look more like a laundry room then a back door mud room.
You did such a BEAUTIFUL job, I just hope mine comes out the same!
Regards!
Willow
Jennecca says
I was wondering what kind of wood paneling it is that you had, I have wood paneling that was added as part of a 70s remodel in a house that we just bought.This wood paneling has a raised wood grain texture that I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to cover it? Any ideas would be wonderful I really think it could take a prize for ugliest hard to figure out thing ever. Thanks
YoungHouseLove says
Our paneling didn’t have the raised grain that you mention, but we think if you sand everything down (an electric sander would help it go faster) and then follow this tutorial it should look great. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Bob says
Jennecca,
You might try a thin coat of all-purpose drywall compound to “level” out the grain. Be sure to degrease the surface first with “TSP” or similar. You could then use a short nap roller to “texture” the new surface to suit.
Just another idea for you.
Bob
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for tossing out that tip Bob!
xo,
s
EmadGrace says
Thank you so much for this posting! We are preparing for a similar project in our first home. Quick question: in your photos it appears that your wall paint is a cream and your trim is bright white – is this accurate? Thanks again!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, the walls are a soft creamy color (Glidden’s Wishes) and the trim is bright white. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Denise says
Hi Sherry! First of all, I absolutely LOVE you home. The way you have remodeled and redecorated is just so impressive and beautiful. You have so many great ideas. I have a brick fireplace and ugly old paneling that I want to do something about, so I decided to google it to see what others have done. That is how I found your awesome site! I am hoping that you might be able to give me some advice.
Question 1: I have a dark red ugly fireplace. It is icky. I painted the walls “orange vanilla” and the mantel a light beige color. I was wondering if you would mind giving me an idea as to what color I should paint over the ugly bricks. What do you think would look nice with the peach walls and the beige? Here is my set on Flickr where I have my house pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geogirl/sets/72157621982878807/. I was thinking a few shades darker than the beige, but more warm than gray. As you can see from the photos, I already spent months repainting and trying to make the house look better. I went pretty wild with the green in my dining room, I know. I might repaint it something less GREEN.
Question 2: I have cheap faux wood paneling and I want to paint it. However, I do not want the vertical grooves to be left when I am all finished. I would like to have a wall that looks like a regular wall without any lines in it. Do you have a particular product that you would recommend that I use to fill in the grooves? Could I fill in the grooves with the spackle (or whatever you recommend) and THEN primer it? Or should I primer, spackle, and primer again? My whole upstairs is practically paneled. I hate it. I would like to paint the wall going up the stairs and the upstairs hallway a nice warm sand/tan color. Would you be able to give me a color recommendation for my hallway? It is now a light lavender and it just doesn’t fit the character of the house. It was such a poor color choice on my part. Here are the pictures of the hallway so you can take a look: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geogirl/sets/72157622107419460/
Thanks so much for sharing all of your tips with us! And I really appreciate any info you can give me. I know you must be busy, but any advice you can give would be just awesome!
Denise
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, your choice of something a few shades darker than the beige but warmer than gray would be lovely- just try bringing home a ton of swatches to see what works best in your lighting situation. And as for filling those grooves, there are a wide variety of fillers and caulks that you can use so just visit your local home improvement center to see what they recommend (make sure it’s shrink proof and paintable and you should be all set). And you do all the filling in before priming and then just follow this tutorial from there on. And as for colors, here’s a post all about our favorite paint colors so grab a bunch of swatches and just see what you like best in your house with the other colors you already have going on. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Dawn says
In our bungalow, our upstairs bedroom has these same ceiling tiles. Did you just paint those as well? Thanks
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, they’re like sponges so it takes a few coats (they soak it up like crazy) but it’s totally worth the clean and crisp effect in the end.
xo,
s
Caitlin says
We just moved into a really great house, except… the basement is paneled overboard, floor-to-ceiling in pine. Even the columns are paneled, the door is also made of paneling (it’s about a foot thick), the built-in bar is paneled (how to get rid of that, who knows) and there’s a (non working) sauna that is… paneled!
We’ve been bouncing around the idea of painting it white (although I love your cream idea), especially since the windows are so small they let in very little light.
Painting the paneling seems like sacrilege to every pine-loving man I’ve told the idea to (really, it’s not that attractive) but the main thing I’m worried about is fumes. I could use low-VOC paint, but I’m worried it will make the house reek no matter what! (I’ve never used low VOC before)
I suppose any action is better than letting the basement become a junk storage place slash cat paradise, but I’m really worried we’ll smell up the house for weeks!
Any advice would be appreciated!
YoungHouseLove says
If you open the windows and have a few fans going it shouldn’t be that bad- especially if you apply thin and even coats and let them dry between applications (slapping a bunch of thick coats on will take eons longer to dry). It was definitely worth the work and the smell and the cheap-o expense to totally transform our space so we say go for it. It was one of our most dramatic makeovers and definitely the most budget friendly. But of course you have to be sure about it before you make the commitment so perhaps sleeping on it for a while is best? Either way, good luck!
xo,
s
Lissa says
So I went to get oil-based primer with my latex paint but the guy at the store vehemently said I shouldn’t mix oil-based primer with water based latex as the paint might not stick to the oil-based primer. I was in such a dilemma and I went with his suggestions and gotten the water based primer. Oh YHLers!! Did I do wrong? Have to check if I can return the primer.
YoungHouseLove says
We (and any many other experts and novices alike) have followed the exact steps that we outlined above with perfect results. In fact it’s the industry standard to use oil-based primer followed by latex paint (often demonstratd on HGTV, suggested on DIY.com, etc). It’s oil-based PAINT that can’t be followed with latex or water-based paint because it can bubble and peel, but oil-based primer is a totally different story. We (and others!) have had undeniable success with the oil-based primer (which blocks more stains and results in a more long lasting finish) so we wouldn’t risk it- return that stuff and get the oil-based kind! And be sure that it says “stain-blocking primer” on it- Kilz makes a great one. Good luck!
xo,
s
Jean Prevo says
I think your room looks great.
We just bought a house that has the 70’s paneling and some of it has been painted but some of it has paper on it. The paneling is very cheap and thin. I don’t think I can remove the paper without damaging the wall so my question is can I paint over this paper or will it peel off after I paint it?
Thank you for your time.
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely rent a steamer to remove the paper. It’s a shortcut in the long run because failing to do this will make your paint bubble and peel. Good luck!
xo,
s
nancy says
Hi – I noticed you had some kind of grey electrical box (?) in the back that you painted over. In the after picture its kind of covered up by the hanging stuff. Was that metal? How does it look like up close? I have some ugly ones that stick out like sore thumbs in my basement but I don’t want it to look ugly painted. Thanks for sharing!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, we painted right over our metal breaker box with regular latex paint (same as the walls). It went on really well and blends in a lot more with the walls. We would totally recommend it!
xo,
s
Lissa says
Hi YHLers, I returned the water based primer and bought Kilz oil based primer. Oil-based stuff is just so difficult to paint. I’m now waiting for my top coat to dry and will be painting the 2nd coat tomorrow. Most time consuming was getting the primer and paint into tiny slits in between the panels. I recommend painting the slits/cracks first before rolling on the paint.
Most of all, I want to thank YHLers for all the encouragement and suggestions. Couldn’t do it without you guys. Water Chestnut is such a gorgeous colour. I have to wait to see how much paint is left before painting the fireplace as well. P/S Your recommendation on the short handle angled brush (couldn’t find the same one but found a similar one at HD) is god sent! So so easy to use.
If I didn’t live so far away, I would love to thank you guys by giving S a maternity and newborn photo session.
YoungHouseLove says
So glad it worked out so well for you. Congrats on your DIY victory!
xo,
s
Amy says
Hi. Rgd. paneling with knots – should I fill the knots with wood filler (non shrinking and paintable, sand them, then spot prime the knots only with BIN Primer (a shellac) and then prime everything with the Kilz Oil Based Primer? Or should I use the BIN Primer on the knots and then fill the knots with wood filler, or should I skip the BIN Primer altogether? I read somewhere that the BIN Primer will keep the knots from “weeping”, but will just the Kilz Oil Based Primer be sufficient? What do you think? Thanks for the inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
The KILZ oil-based primer should be sufficient, but it can’t hurt to take the extra step with the BIN primer if you’d like. The best order would be to fill the knots, sand them, then prime (using BIN on the knots is optional, but definitely use KILZ everywhere) and you should be good to go. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
Thanks, you have been very helpful! One more question – is ok to clean the paneling with TSP before priming/painting or will that mess up the paneling somehow? Thanks again.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s totally fine- just be sure it’s completely dry when you begin priming/painting. Your best bet is to do that the day before. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Debi Wheatley says
What did you do with the trim between the walls that paneling alwasys has. I have trim above the paneling (at ceiling level) and in each corner. I also have a fireplace in a corner with that trim around it. I Googled this and found you. Great site! Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
The trim in each corner (running vertically with the paneling) got the same coat of wall paint the the brick and paneling got to unify the room (since the edges of walls in a painted room would be the same color). The trim that we had around the ceiling and floor was chunky and thick like crown molding and baseboard, so that got a coat of white paint (again, just as you’d do in a drywalled room) to add some demension and frame everything out (but if yours isn’t as chunky as crown molding and baseboard we would recommend painting it the same color as the walls to de-emphasize it). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Nancy says
Hello. Love your house! What finish (flat, eggshell, semi gloss etc) did you use for the white and creamy color paints on the brick and wood paneling? Thanks
YoungHouseLove says
We used flat paint on all of the brick and paneling but semi-gloss for the white mantel and trim. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Denise says
Hi!
I left a comment not too long ago about painting a brick fireplace and faux wood paneling. I just wanted to let you know that I found a really great, non-shrinkable filler for those ugly grooves in wood paneling. It is called Durham’s Water Putty and I found it at Lowe’s for $8. It is a powder that you mix with water and press into the grooves/voids with a putty knife. It dries super hard and can be sanded. Then you can prime with an oil-based primer and then paint whatever you want on top. It’s a real life-saver when it comes to my project for turning my old 70s wood-paneled walls into a “real” wall. I just wanted to share that with all of you! Here is a webpage about the product: http://www.waterputty.com/pages/view.htm
Thanks for the great website and tips!
Denise
PS – here is the “after” picture of my painted brick fireplace:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/geogirl/4501264670/
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! So glad it worked out so well!
xo,
s
Jean Perrotta says
Thank you for sharing your tips and know-how on painting paneling. I have a 1915 bungalow, and I’m priming the shiplapped boards in the upstairs bedroom. I used a brush to apply the KILZ (before I found your site!), but I see that you used a roller. Should I put on a second coat of the primer, using a roller…or just paint over the brushed-on primer? Do you think it will make a difference?
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, brush or roller is fine! A roller just goes faster but they’re both a great way to get that stuff on the wall.
xo,
s
Kristy says
Hi! I’m trying to help my dad renovate and update his 1950’s rental house in Colonial Heights, Va. He has real wood paneling half way up the walls in the den with a fireplace. I am trying to convince him to paint the wood white (we painted the top of the walls cream) which I thought would give it a modern and cozy feel. But he likes the wood and insists on keeping it and wanting to stain it. I am not visualizing this looking good, do you have any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristy,
There are definitely people out there who think it’s a crime to paint paneling or brick! And we don’t suggest taking on a painting project unless the homeowner is extremely excited about the new look. It sounds like your dad loves the natural wood more than the painted idea, so we think convincing him to change that paneling with some paint might not be the best move. Staining it will freshen things up, and if that’s what floats his boat we say to go for it!
xo,
s
cindy says
I have been wanting to paint my daughter’s bedroom for awhile and so glad I saw your site before diving in. She has a small room, and all of the walls have dark faux wood paneling – soooooooo ugly! My question for you guys is one wall has a very nice bookcase built onto it made out of stained oak I presume, but you can see the ugly paneling behind it. I want to paint the walls kind of a light sand color to give it a beachy feel (we live near the beach), but can’t decide whether to paint the bookcase. My husband doesn’t want me to touch it (one of those “guys LIKE wood” kinda things!). I was thinking white. Any ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
Why not paint the paneling first and see what you both think about the bookcase afterwards? Your husband might be completely convinced to paint it once he sees the magic that a coat of paint can do for everything else. And a crisp white color on the bookcase would be lovely. Of course you want your husband to be totally on board before you go for it, which is why the baby steps (painting the paneling first) might be the best approach. Good luck!
xo,
s
Theresa says
My son bought his first home last month. Question is the entire living room is painted WHITE, the paneling the bick fireplace,the mantle, the built in bookshelf, get the picture EVERYTHING. We wanted to put drywall on the walls to give it a textured look, but we’re told by a “professional painter” that it would crack and the seems would show thru. What do you think, just paint or do you have an ideal on filling the cracks and giving the walls some smooth texture??? Oh and can we paint over whats already there, I think it is white primer, but I can’t be sure. Thanks for any tips you can offer.
YoungHouseLove says
You can fill those cracks with paintable caulk- just visit the home improvement store and explain the project and they’ll show you what you need (just be sure it’s paintable and shrink-proof). We would definitely recommend caulking and painting (or just painting). We love the look of our painted paneling! Oh and just to be sure we’d add a coat of primer before the paint- don’t want to have to do things twice!
xo,
s
Katie says
Hi Guys,
I have a primer question for you. I’m using KILZ oil based odorless primer in preparation for painting the wood trim in my house. I’ve never used primer before and wanted to see if you had any tips. I was surprised when I opened the can that the mixture was a bit separated with the thinner substance on top and the thicker on the bottom–think, all natural peanut butter. Is this normal? I mixed it as best I could but it wasn’t perfect.
I applied a coat of primer to the wood trim and it made the glossiness go away (yay!) but I could still easily see the wood behind the primer. Did I put enough on or is this to be expected?
Thanks for the help. I always appreciate your advice.
Katie
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, totally normal! Just mix it as well as you can in the beginning and even try to mix it a few times as you go. And as for how thin and splotchy it goes on, that’s also normal- you just need one thin coat to help “grab” the paint- so it doesn’t have to be super thick (in fact that can sabotage your drying time). No worries if you see the wood behind it- by the time you apply a few coats of latex paint it’ll look fab. Good luck!
xo,
s
Erica says
Hello!
Love your blog, we even bought the mailing stamp from Three Designing Women, you guys featured on your blog!
I was thinking about dry walling over the paneling in my basement (for a theatre room) until I saw this post! I’m not sure if you have addressed this but we have the kind that is “fake” wood, and has the ridges all the way up and down vertically ever 4 inches. What should we use to fill them in, if at all? I was thinking we could paint them a different colour but it might be too busy. Thoughts? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
You can use paintable shrink-proof caulk to fill those ridges in if you’d like. Although we have the fake kind with the ridges every four inches and we just painted everything (including the ridges, which we left alone) and it’s a nice subtle texture that we love. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
A says
Any tips on hanging pictures on the painted fake wood paneling? We have plaster walls behind the paneling and was wondering if you had any tricks on how to hang the best way in this type of situation. Thanks for your insight!
YoungHouseLove says
Drill a little pilot hole into the wood & plaster and then hammer in a plastic anchor. Then use a screw (which goes right into the anchor) to hold things in a super sturdy manner. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Suzi Stewart says
We have real oak paneling from floor to ceiling in most of our house. It has a wood texture to it, like real wood does. Is it ok to prime and paint and just let the texture
stay on the wall underneath the paint? Can the real oak bookcase be painted the same way? Is there a special paint for cabinets or bookshelves, something more durable? Thank you for your help.
YoungHouseLove says
Absolutely, it’ll look great with the texture! And you can paint a bookcase exactly the same way with the same primer and paint. It’s extremely durable and long lasting (as long as you don’t switch out the oil-based primer for water-based stuff). Good luck!
xo,
s
Annika Rafkind says
Hi guys,
I am very inexperienced when it comes to painting, renovation and home improvements in general, so I am all for getting some advice from someone who knows that he/she is doing (your place looks fabulous and you are a great inspiration!!!) – and of course I am very excited that I found your blog!
We we are in the process of moving to a new place and aren’t too thrilled with the fake dark wood paneling in one of the rooms, so we decided to paint over it. You mentioned in your tutorial to use oil-based primer and then a latex paint for best results. We were considering the low-VOC Benjamin Moore Aura paint that is self-priming and I am not sure if we should go that route or if it is better to follow your approach? Do you (or anyone else?) have any opinion on your approach vs. BM Aura paint that is self-priming?
Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it!
Annika
YoungHouseLove says
If it’s fake wood that should work really well (real wood that has been stained could bleed through it, which is why we suggested the oil-based primer). Good luck!
xo,
s
Julia says
Hi Sherry (or John!)
Just wondering if you have had any experience with wall papering over paneling? I was thinking about grass cloth so it would disguise some of the grooves. I have heard of filling them in but I don’t want to go to that much work because it’s a rental.
Do you have any advice?
Thanks! Love you guys!
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely think it could work! Just hit up your local home improvement store to find out what glue or paste they think will work best on that surface. And as for the crevices, the grasscloth paper might show them a bit, so even if it’s more work you might want to consider caulking them first (since wallpaper in general is a lot of work to hang and you don’t want to compromise the result). Good luck!
xo,
s
bari says
Hi Sherry and John!
What would you recommend if the wood paneling is in the bathroom (yes, really) We live in an 1800’s Brooklyn brownstone and the bathroom was remodeled with wood paneling at some point. When we moved in it was a scary brown cave and we got approval to paint it but in the past year its been seeping through and I’m concerned doing it again may yield the same results. Retiling isn’t an option but we wouldn’t mind repainting yet again if we could find a solution. The paneling is on 3 walls, including the shower. I wish I took before pics because the B+A is amazing. Unfortunately its not holding up. Any ideas??
YoungHouseLove says
We would use an oil-based primer and interior semi-gloss latex paint on that bathroom paneling. Should work like a charm! They even make latex paint that’s especially formulated for high humidity rooms like bathrooms so you can check into that as well. Good luck!
xo,
s
Katie says
Hi!! I love how this room looks and have similar panneling in my basement, but I think it’s real pine boards, only on the bottom half of the walls. I am currently painting the top half a nice creamy color, but want to paint the bottom. Would it still look nice to have the wood panneling painted either a light brown or tan color with the top half being the cream? I am also concerned since there is a kitchenette in the basement with wood work panneling for the drawers and cupboards and don’t want to mess that up with painting, but hate the look of it? Any suggestions?
Thank you!!! : )
Katie
YoungHouseLove says
Tan on the bottom and cream on the top sounds lovely- and this tutorial will work for real wood paneling so you’re good to go. As for the kitchenette, here’s a tutorial for painting cabinets (which would really help them blend in so you like them more). Hope it helps. And good luck!
xo,
s
katie says
Thank you two very much!! You guys are fabulous! : )
Maria says
Thanks for sharing your pictures! The results are beautiful. We just moved into a cute 1950s home that needs some brightening up. Despite the wood paneling we inherited being very nice, it’s too dark for the small size of the home and really not our style. Would you mind sharing the color and brand paint you used on your room? Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
We used Water Chestnut by Glidden on the fireplace wall and Wishes by Glidden on the other three walls. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Katie says
Hey Guys,
We have a very similar den in our home that we are going to start working on. Not sure if I missed it, but did you do anything to the ceilings? We are debating whether to get the ceiling redone or not. What did you do–and do you have any ceiling tips?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We just painted the ceiling with white paint (a few coats for a nice even finish). Our tip would just be to watch for drips on the floor and use one of those roller extender rods to save your back. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
stephanie Bozeman says
i am gettting ready to try this but my wall has the grooves in it, shouldnt i caulk and sand them as well as the nail holes.. thanx
YoungHouseLove says
Hi Stephanie,
Ours had grooves in it (i.e. spaces between each panel) but we just left them as they were. It means our walls still have the texture of panel planks but we kinda like it that way to be honest. If the grooves in yours will bother you after it’s all painted you could certainly caulk or use wood filler to eliminate them, but personally we think you’re better off sparing yourself the headache of doing that and just living with the textural detail. Hope that helps!
-John
virginia says
Hey,
We love what you have done with your home and need some advice. We have a room this is knotty pine and extremely shellacked. Would you suggest the same method for painting? Do you think there is any way to strip the glossy layer other than sanding the whole room? We are looking forward to the transformation but the project seems extremely daunting at this point. Thanks:)
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe check your local home improvement store for some sort of chemical stripper? We always recommend sanding by hand (sometimes strippers can be fume filled and actually complicate the project) but it’s worth checking what they suggest. Good luck!
xo,
s
Danielle Allen says
I just found your site through a friend and have been up late every night becoming inspired to return to work on improving my home…I am not sure if this is the right place to ask but what is your experience with slip covers…I want to change/improve my den…I have a recliner couch that is in great shape but the fabric is horrible to say the least…is there anything I can do to keep it but give it a face lift so I can use that money on other fun projects instead of buying a new couch…thanks for any advice
Danielle
YoungHouseLove says
We love our slipcovers! So easy care and good with a dog and a baby! They were custom made for the sofas when we purchased them, but you might want to try Bed Bath & Beyond and Target for off-the-shelf slipcover options. Good luck!
xo,
s
Heidi says
You two are so inspiring! I love your B&A photos but I think I may have a really serious challenge for you. We’ve got a very funky kind of paneling that I want to paint over and it’s circa 1974. The walls are covered with rough hewn cedar planks(you can actually smell it when you come into the house if the house has been closed up while we’re on vacation and if you rub up against it you’ll get splinters). I haven’t run into anyone who actually knows what to do to cover this successfully since it’s so out of date and so dark.
Thanks for any ideas you might have!
YoungHouseLove says
This tutorial should do the trick! A coat or two of oil-based primer will block any bleeding and then latex paint will cover that darkness. Of course you can sand it to smooth it out beforehand as well. Good luck!
xo,
s
Matt says
Hello,
We have the same type paneling that we plan on painting, however, we plan on painting every other panel a seperate colour (grey, light grey, grey, etc). What would you recommend to do with the gap in between the panels? Currently they are a dark brown gap to my existing wood-colored panels. My wife mentioned painting the thin gap a shade of red that would match my accent pieces on the bar, but im not sure. What would you recommend and how would you go about doing it?
Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
White might look nice and crisp, like grout or a slim break of tone. That would be our suggestion but of course you should just follow your heart!
xo,
s
Stefanie says
Just wondering what color and brand of paint you used for your den?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s Wishes by Glidden. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Verle says
Wow! Looks great guys! My fiancée and I are looking at a house that is paneling HELL. Your advice is great. If prepped well, how difficult will covering the paneling be? Im just worried that it will not be easy to cover. We just don’t have it in our budget to dry wall the entire house right now and it really needs a dose of modernization.
thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
One coat of primer and two coats of latex paint should be all it takes to cover it completely- of course we recommend the oil-based primer which helps with that!
xo,
s
Sue says
Hello home remodel adventurists!! I love your site and have paneling just like yours that Im going to be painting. Ive gotten great ideas from your site. Ive moved into my moms basement to take care of her as she is in ill health, so yes, Im a basement dweller. The house is around 30 years old and has the drop ceiling in the basement. I cant afford to hire a contractor to put drywall on the ceiling and not able to do it myself. I was thinking of just removing the drop, putting in can lights and leaving it with exposed rafters..painted of course. What are your thoughts on this idea? Any info is greatly appreciated!!
YoungHouseLove says
LOVE IT! It’s definitely exactly what we would do. Good luck with everything! We’re sure it’ll look amazing!
xo,
s
Ellen says
Please help me! I can’t stand it any longer. We have the grooved paneling in the bedrooms & living room and printed paneling in the kitchen and bathrooms can we paint it?
YoungHouseLove says
Of course! Just follow these steps and don’t forget the oil-based primer!
xo,
s
Ellen says
Thanks I can’t wait to get started:)
Joy says
The fireplace in your den looks like the mantel & hearth are painted white or is it the lighting that makes it look that way. We have a fireplace just like yours and are painting the walls a warm yellow and will paint the fireplace a shade darker like you did. We just don’t know if we should paint the whole fireplace one color or add the white to the mantel & hearth.
Lindsey says
Hi Ya’ll! My Husband and I are in the final phases of buying our first house! We are set to close on 10/29/10!!! YAY! But I wanted to ask….we have a room with wood paneling that at first I was thinking of painting but then I thought about taking down the wood paneling. My question is what made you guys decide to keep the wood paneling and just paint it versus removing it and replacing it with new drywall? Are you happy with the end result?
I have to say it looks AMAZING! This is my favorite room in your house.
Thanks Youngsters and good luck with your house hunt! I’m so excited to see what you find!
Lindsey says
One more question while I’m thinking about it! Our kitchen cabinets look pretty yucky but they’re partical board-ish. Any suggestions on painting or do you think we should just suck it up until we can afford to replace them?
Thanks for your help!
YoungHouseLove says
Cost! To remove the paneling and re-drywall it would have cost a lot more and taken a lot more time and effort. We’re so happy with the cohesive and inviting effect of painting it (which literally only cost around $40 for primer and paint) and it was about to be completed in an afternoon! We definitely recommend working with (and painting!) what you’ve got! As for the bland cabinets, I’ve seen people dress them up with trim to make them more dimensional or even paint the upper cabinets a different shade than the lower cabinets for a fun look. Just google around for tutorials and ideas! Good luck!
xo,
s
Ellen says
Have you ever painted your countertops?
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, and we wouldn’t recommend it. There are some newer products that claim that they work but many pros don’t think they’ll hold up for the long haul so we’re not ready to embrace them and suggest them just yet…
xo,
s
laurie says
Hi I would like to paint the paneling in my family room it is only the lower half–so I want to do the top a darker tone (mabe a light mocha) and the bottom a off white–currently the trim & chair rail are wood too–what color should I paint the trim or should I leave it the stained wood–I also have beams on the ceiling–should those match the trim or the lower paint color of off white??
Laurie says
I have pictures of the room as it is now if that would help you help me I can email them to you.
YoungHouseLove says
We would do white for the trim and the beams and then white or cream on the paneling and the darker tone on top. Good luck!
xo,
s
DIANA says
Love what u guys have done with your home. We have old fake paneling in our basement that is dark and makes the whole space feel as if the walls are crowding in on you. The house is a semi so the basement is anywhere from 8-15 feet at its widest.
We are so inspired by your living/dining space redo that we want to try to brighten up our basement.
My only concern is that the oil primers have a very strong odor and the basement has really minimal if any ventilation (older home w older windows that are tiny – I don’t even think they can be opened!). I also have 2 little ones and I am very concerned about the fumes from the oil based primer. Any particular brands you recommend that are odorless??
YoungHouseLove says
Sadly we haven’t come across any odorless oil-based primers. Perhaps ask around at your local home improvement store? Good luck!
xo,
s
Amy says
Is there a mask type/brand that you would recommend using while applying oil based primer and or BIN primer?
YoungHouseLove says
We have one from Home Depot but neither of us can remember the brand. It was around $35 or so. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
I just have a couple of last minute questions before I paint my paneling this week:
I will be using Purdy’s white dove roller for the paint, should I use it for the primer too (or does it matter if I use a cheaper roller?)
Should I prime/paint the grooves first and then go over the walls with a roller?
As for the order, should I paint 2 coats on the walls and then 2 coats on the trim?
Thanks for all your help!:)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
We’d recommend just buying a two-pack of the same Purdy roller so the coat of primer goes on smoothly and makes a nice foundation. As for the grooves, we did those after rolling with a brush, but the order probably doesn’t matter. As for the order of walls and trim, that’s debatable but we like to do trim last to crisp things up at the end. Two coats on the wall and then two on the trim sounds perfect! Good luck!
xo,
s