Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Paint Wood Paneling

Tons of people have written to request a step-by-step guide to painting wood paneling so we’re here to deliver the lowdown.

how-to-paint-wood-paneling

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:

Final Den Before 1

Final Den Before 2

Final Den After 1

Final Den After 2

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!

Comments

  1. Megan Edmonds-Wert says

    Hello young family. Thank you for this tutorial. I would love to do this in my living room where one wall is covered in knotty pine paneling. As it is a small room you can imagine how dark it feels with wood on the one wall that reflects light from the only window. My question is, since I absolutely despise sanding, can you assure me that I can skip this step? Looking at you pictures, I think my paneling is about as shiny as yours was, but it definitely has some kind of stain on it, though not as shiny as a shellac. This is fairly new to me and it also took a lot of pushing from me for my husband to agree to the project. I don’t have experience with oil-based primers and I don’t want to make a mess of something my husband is still a little reluctant about. Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      If your paneling isn’t super glossy but you’re sure to use an oil based primer it should be fine. If you use a water based one it’ll be terrible. Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  2. Kristina says

    Just a comment – Diana had asked about odorless oil based primer. We used a “low odor” oil primer from Sherwin Williams and it worked wonderfully. I have used normal oil Kilz in the past and I can say there were definitely less fumes with the “low odor” variety. We just finished painting out paneling also and are very very happy about the results. My husband asked me, “Why did we wait so long to do this?”

    Reply

  3. Kelly says

    I have paneling that is over 40yrs old. Some of this is painted and some not. I want to make it all look like distressed whitewash wood. Is this even possible? I do not know where to even start.

    Thank You

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Kelly,

      Yes! It’s possible to make the unpained paneling look whitewashed (the kind that’s painted already might be more of a challenge since it’ll need to be stripped and whitewashed). They actually sell whitewashing products at Home Depot or Lowe’s so just go there and tell them what you’d like to do and they should be able to show you what you need. Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  4. Ann says

    I have just recently found your blog and am so inspired by you! I love your choice of paint colors for all your projects! Do you recommend flat,satin or semi gloss paint on paneling? I’ve always heard not to use latex paint over oil based. Apparently this doesn’t hold true when painting paneling. Do you know why?

    Thanks so much and good luck in your new home!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You definitely shouldn’t use latex paint over oil-based PAINT, but latex paint over oil-based primer is the industry standard (we learned from the pros). Works like a charm! Not only for paneling but for painting furniture, etc. As for the finish, we like flat or satin, just because it keeps the shine down (and shine can show imperfections so things usually look better when they’re less shiny). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  6. Marwa says

    I’ve never seen such a drastic make over of any room as I have this one! You are so talented and have such a great eye! (great taste, if I may add) I have a big room with a fireplace that I’ve been dying to make over and you’ve given me such a great idea! Thank you :)

    Reply

  7. Chels says

    Hi, John and Sherry! Just found this post about painting your paneling and wanted to let you know that you DON’T necessarily need to sand your paneling before you paint it.

    My house was full of shiny, shiny over-varnished paneling, but the primer we bought was specifically meant to cover varnish (among other finishes). We tried a small area to test first, but the primer stuck and the paint is gorgeously smooth and durable over it.

    Just thought you might want to share this tip with readers–or use it yourselves when you get to that kitchen!

    Reply

  8. Jessica D. says

    Hi you guys! We live in an all wood paneling house(yikes!). We painted every room when we moved in except one because we really hadn’t designated a purpose for it at the time, except for storage of stuff we need to go through to keep, purge, give away. Now that we’re expecting baby #2 we have to get it painted for a nursery! Since I’m pregnant I would like to get a no or low-voc paint so I can help in the project, I love to paint. Are there any other options to seal the paneling up besides oil primer? Thanks!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’ll be looking into that soon actually! We plan to visit a local building supply store called EcoLogic that specializes in low and no VOC alternatives. We’ll post all about what we end up using when we find it! We have also heard that Behr’s primer & paint combined stuff is low-VOC although it’s not oil-based, so that might be something you could try. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  9. Jessica D. says

    Thanks for the quick feedback! I found Zinsser Odorless Oil-based that is low voc, <350 g/l. I'm going to keep looking and wait to see what you guys find too!

    Reply

  10. Lisa says

    Hi John and Sherry,
    Your room make over looks great. I would like to do the same but was wondering how to fill the grooves in the paneling. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Lisa

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Lisa,

      We don’t mind the texture of the grooves so we just painted ours, but you can use paintable caulk (Dap has some good stuff) for that. Just ask around for help at the hardware store to see what they recommend. Just make sure it’s paintable!

      xo,
      s

  11. Trish says

    Hi John and Sherry…
    I’m in the same boat as Lisa. I do want to fill the grooves in the paneling to make it look like a normal wall. I’ve heard to do that is to use “mud”?? (joint compound) The guy at Lowe’s said to use the mud first over the wall to be painted, sand it, primer, then paint. What do you think?
    Thanks,
    Trish

    Reply

  14. Michele says

    Try the joint compound (mud) on a small area first… I had a “sample” piece (cover of an access panel) that I tried jc on, and it dried right back into the creases AND cracked. I think I ended up using caulking (not silicone, you can’t paint silicone) or maybe even spackle, which isn’t cheap so I decided I don’t really mind the look of painted paneling after all. I painted my upstairs paneling when we bought the house over 8 years ago (sanded, cleaned, primed w waterbase and paint- if I’d used oil based primer I could have skipped the sanding, but back then no one really knew!), and it’s holding up perfectly. As a matter of fact, it’s time to repaint! Nice to know others are finally realizing this is a viable option to that awful ugly paneling! I was originally told NOT TO DO IT and it couldn’t be done… everyone wanted me to rip out my walls and put in drywall 9_9

    Reply

  15. Lucy L. says

    Great job, guyz! In the 1st b4 pic i wonder how anyone would cozy up in that room even if it DID have a fireplace! It looks small, desolate and had no character. It now looks chic, modern & cozy. I just bought a house w/the living room rooms having the real hardwood paneling, which has dark brown finish & brick fp. I’ve thought of painting it a lighter color. After seeing those pics I’m really inspired. thanks younghouselove!

    P.S. – In the 2nd after pic, was the door opening widened?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we widened a few of the doorways in our first house (and also plan to do that here as well). It’s one of those changes that really makes all the difference!

      xo,
      s

  16. Amy says

    We have wood levels that start at chair real height and go to the floor. A painter told us we would have to sand prime sand prime sand paint sand paint to have no peeling. this seems like a lot of steps! What do you think? Should it be just like doing your type of panel? Thanks!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      There’s definitely more than one way to skin a cat, but our method worked out well for us! We’d just recommend following whichever advice that makes you feel most comfortable. Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  17. Amy says

    Thanks so much! Just went back and read my message, wow can you tell I was texting on a smart phone. :) I meant wood panels that start at chair rail height, hahaha! Gotta love them! I feel more comfortable with your method… it’s a lot less time consuming! Thanks again!

    Reply

  19. emily says

    Hi friends! Wondering if you painted the ceiling tiles in this room as well? Our new cottage has the lovely wood wall paneling and pink and turquiose 80’s looking ceiling tiles. Am wanting to paint them white if possible. Any thoughts?

    Reply

  20. Gwen says

    Love your room. It’s so beautiful! I was looking on other sites and they had so many steps to do that seem unnessary. All of the walls in my room are paneled and they were previously painted (except one that is still just paneling) so they were an easy fix from the hidious blue they were. Now that I know how simply it can be I can’t wait to paint that wall too. Thanks for all the tips!

    Reply

  22. Courtney Renegar says

    Hi! I just found your blog and have spent the last week reading all the it… well most of it!! I love your style. But, here’s my question. In my tiny family room (read 10×10)with 5! doors we have real wood on the bottom half of the wall that is about 3/4″ thick. So, with all those doors and 2 windows and half wood walls, we have no idea how to paint it. Right now the wood is painted and the top half of the wall is papered (a whole different chore). I think I would like to paint it all one color, but have no idea if that would work. HELP!!

    Reply

  23. Mary says

    Hi,
    I love your website! It’s awesome!! I have found your website very helpful for decorating advice. I do have some questions in regards to painting paneling. My hubby finally gave in to my unending plead to paint our ugly, dark-paneled family room. He is reluctant about painting it but I’m hoping the final look will convince him that this is the right decision. I would love to take the paneling down & drywall but I really need a quicker, less expensive option to brighten up the room. That being said, I have read that you can fill in paneling by using caulking or wood putty so that it appears to be like regular drywall. However, I then read that using those methods not only takes much longer but sometimes causes cracking over time & also makes it more difficult to remove if we do eventually decide to drywall the room. What are your thoughts on this method? Our paneling is actually fairly thick. Each panel is about 11.5 inches wide with a 1 inch groove between each panel. If we don’t fill in the grooves with caulking, do we just paint the grooves with paint or try our best not to get in the lines? Also, I love the photos of your transformed room. I see the color you used is “Wishes” by Glidden. Being that they no longer offer samples of this color, can you describe it? It looks bright and cheerful but I know sometimes computer monitors may distort colors. I am thinking of a lighter, more neutral color and “Wishes” may be a good option. Also, do you recommend using “Kilz” first since this is technically a family room in the basement part of the house? Sorry to bombard with questions but I just want to make sure I get this right since it took a lot of convincing for my hubby to agree to this. Thanks in advance for any advice!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would get white paintable (make sure it’s paintable!) Dap caulk and fill the creases with that. It might not make them invisible but it’ll fill the deep crevice and make it look nice and subtle- and could eliminate the cracks entirely. As for Wishes, it’s a soft creamy color. Not yellow but not cream. Kind of in the middle, like buttermilk. It would look awesome in any room that needs to be brightened up! And definitely use Kilz first (well caulk first, then use Kilz over everything) and make sure it’s the oil-based kind (they also make water-based primer but you’ll want oil-based for your thick paneling to make sure nothing bleeds through. Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  24. Mary says

    Thanks for responding so quickly! I appreciate your advice. I can’t wait to start the project. I think Wishes sounds like the perfect color for our room. Regarding the caulking- Will the caulking hold up over time and still look good years from now? Also, if we do caulk, will it be a lot more difficult to take down if we ever do decide to drywall?
    Thanks again!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      The caulk shouldn’t make a difference when it comes to removing the paneling down the line (you’ll have to remove the paneling from behind and the caulk is in front of it so it’ll be no different). As for holding up, it’s great stuff. Especially the Dap brand paintable white window & door caulk, so that’s what I’d recommend. If you caulk and prime with oil-based primer and then paint over it I’d guess you’ll get at least ten good years or so. Maybe more.

      xo,
      s

  25. Mary says

    Hi again,
    Can you confirm that I can use latex paint on the paneling as long as it’s over an oil based primer? Would it be better to use latex paint or oil based paint over the paneling? Also, how do you know for sure if you need to sand your panels or not?
    Thanks again!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, you can always use latex paint over oil-based primer (it’s the industry standard). Latex paint can’t be applied over oil-based PAINT, but oil-based primer is great. We actually prefer it to oil-based paint (which is why we outline this specific method) because latex dries faster and is a lot less fumey and stinky. It holds up well and looks good years (and even decades) later. Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  27. Erin says

    You are totally inspiring me to paint our knotty pine fireplace! Question though – our paneling is real wood. I’ve heard that BINS is the only primer that will cover real wood knots. Do you have advice here? I’m looking to use something zero VOC for the bambino:)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      My advice would definitely be to use an oil-based primer (anything oil-based and stain-blocking should do the trick, and unfortunately anything that’s water based and low or no VOC will probably result in ugly bleed-through). I would find someone to watch the bambino for an afternoon and prime it with oil-based primer like Kilz or Binz with lots of windows open and fans going for ventilation. Then give it about an hour or two to dry and paint it with no-VOC latex paint (we like Mythic or Olympic Premium’s no-VOC paint) which will “seal” in the primer so there shouldn’t be any off-gassing after that (does that make sense? only the primer will have VOCs, but once it’s covered in paint and you have windows and fans going it should be sealed and then the baby can come back). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  28. stephanie kandray says

    Looks amazing! Did you paint the trim as well or just replace it? If you painted it, did you take it down, paint the wall underneath and put it back up, or just paint as is?

    Reply

  29. caseyjodi says

    Quick question…

    what finish do you recommend for panelling in a livingroom? here’s the stats – im going to be painting the panelling in the livingroom nice crisp white, and non-paneled walls a graphite gray. The graphite walls will be an eggshell finish, and i was just going to buy a HUGE VAT of semi-gloss white for all the areas in the house that need it (kitchen cabinets, trim, doors, fireplace) and avoid buying eggshell white paint (to save moolah, duh) Would semi-gloss look funny? should i stick with eggshell like the other walls? what would you do?

    thanks.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would stick with eggshell if you can. The semi-gloss in a living space might look oddly shiny (we reserve that for kitchens and bathrooms). You can try it and see how you like the look in one corner though. That way if it looks less shiny in your light you can save money and just go with it!

      xo,
      s

  30. Chris says

    Your rooms are totally AWESPOME!!!

    I just purchased a 1976 (14’X70′) single wide manufactured home and it is ALL dark wood fake paneling.

    I have question about the strips that were put up to “hide” where the panels come together. The strips are starting to come off by themselves. Would I need to spackle these areas before painting?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, I would hammer those back into place (or use Liquid Nails) before you prime and paint (and spackle any holes you have). Good luck! It’s going to look amazing in the end!

      xo,
      s

  31. Kelly says

    We are buying a house that has paneling in it and one of the bedrooms paneling has been painted this horrible bright green color. would it be easier to remove the paint from the paneling or just primer it? My daughter wants to paint it a pink color.

    Reply

  32. Becky S. says

    I did half of my living room this weekend which is covered in knotty beadboard, not paneling and I am physically mad at the walls and the primer! It was awful!!! I tried the fluffiest wool roller I could find and it still didn’t get into the grooves so I used a small brush to paint the grooves and the roller to go over the smooth parts. It took FOREVER!! And the oil based primer is the worst smelling, most horrible thing to clean ever!! Do you have any tips for me on painting the beadboard or cleaning oil based primer?? I ended up just throwing out my roller and brush because even with an entire bottle of turpentine I still couldn’t get them clean!
    It looks sooo good though so I really can’t wait to get the other two walls done, but I need help, please!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Back when we used oil-based primer for the paneling in our last house we used mineral spirits to clean up. So messy though! We’re attempting to avoid that fate this time. With minimal success. More details when we figure this mess out. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  33. Angelique says

    I have tried painting paneling before in my daughters room. When my son decided to take a permanent marker to one wall. I had a hard time getting it off and even pulled some of the paint with it. Before I try another room my question is do you think an extra layer of paint/primer could have prevented this?
    Also I just love the peacock blue that you used in the guest room. Thanks for naming the color I would love to try that in the kids bathroom.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, if you didn’t use primer at all, that definitely would help with adhesion and a nice solid foundation. If you did, perhaps a second coat of primer or paint would make a marginal difference. Either way I’d just sand it smooth and use a few thin and even coats of the wall color to hopefully make it look seamless. Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  34. Hayley says

    We are painting our wood paneling as we speak. We have learned that if we take our finger nail and scrape it, it will come off. Is this going to be a problem once paint is on? We are using zinsser123, as directed by our contractor. Thanks!

    Reply

  35. Marie says

    Hi, You’ve really inspired me to paint our panelled family room.
    I’m also looking for slipcovered sofas, I see you used PB, and they have the right sizes for our needs. However, I’ve read mixed reviews about PB basic. How do you like them? have you washed the covers? (if so, how) and don’t they end up looking really creased?

    Reply

  37. Lindsay says

    So glad I found this tutorial! I have an entire room of wood paneling I’ll be painting soon and I was a little nervous about how much work would be involved in it. I feel much better now, thank you!!!

    Reply

  38. SusanL says

    Ok mind = blown. This tutorial is amazing, I had no idea! My house is from 1948 and one of the previous owners (probably from the 70s) decided to slap up a wooden wall in the dining room with thick, diagonal wooden slats. Do you think this could be painted over? We did flat paint for the rest of our living room and I would like this wall to match. Do you think the wood would show through the flat paint too much? Thank you again!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, it’ll work! Just be sure to use the oil-based primer first so it sticks and has good coverage. Flat paint should do fine (you might need two coats over the primer, but it’ll look nice and seamless when you’re done).

      xo,
      s

  39. SusanL says

    I just had to follow up and say you guys are amazing! I was actually in the process of looking up a contractor to remove our wooden wall and refinish it (something my husband and I estimated would cost around $700), when I ran across this tutorial. With the attitude of “Why the heck not?!” I primed and painted out thick wooden wall yesterday. It looks fantastic, and it only cost me $77 in painting supplies (including the primer I’ll use again.) Thank you for such a great tutorial! Now if you could just get my husband to be as pumped for home improvement projects as I am….

    Reply

  40. Katie says

    Beautiful! Just curious as to what color your walls are. I love it. And do you have any preference for the brand of primer and paint. Also, would you think it’s ok to spray the paint on for a large area? My entire house is wood paneling and it’s gotta go. I think I will die if I have to roll the entire thing!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We used Kilz oil-based primer and Wishes by Glidden on the walls. We love Olympic no-VOC paint now though, so that’s what we’d use (with Kilz oil-based primer). As for spraying, it can be touch if you’re a novice (drippy and hard to control) so a roller might actually be easier. It’s worth a shot though! Just sand things down if you don’t like spraying.

      xo,
      s

  41. Nisha says

    Love love love this! Thanks for the tutorial – will try this on our lovely new-old home. The last owners were clearly big fans of wood paneling! I have one question though: Would it be this easy to paint wood paneling that’s made of softer wood, that is super notchy? Our baby’s nursery has this throughout and it’s hideous…. I’d love to say I have time to tear it down and paint the walls behind it (assuming there IS drywall or plastered walls behind it) but I don’t have time :-/ Hoping I can find an easy solution to paint over it!

    Reply

  42. Laureane says

    thank you!!!! you just saved me tons of work and loads of money…My whole main floor is panelling… going east coast theme. I am thankful for this site.. :)

    Reply

  43. Betsy says

    My daughter pointed me to your site. She has been slowly painting the paneling in her home and it looks marvelous. We’re buying our small retirement home in SC with gorgeous “real” 1960’s paneling (walls & ceilings) in great condition in ALL rooms. As a furniture refinisher (hobby only), I absolutely hate the thought of painting wood. BUT, this house just has way too much. And, I’ve also been worried about devaluing the house. However, after seeing your fine work, I’m on board. The kitchen is first… Thanks!

    Reply

  44. Gina says

    Have you ever painted a piece of furniture that wasn’t ‘real’ wood? I have some dressers I purchased from Target a while back. They have a good shape so I dont want to get rid of them. They’re cherry colored, and I’d like to paint them white.

    Any thoughts or recommendations? Can I even do it without it starting to peel off?

    Thanks, Gina.

    Reply

  47. lesley says

    Love the transformation. What color did you use? We are getting ready to do a similar project and would love to try this color. thanks!

    Reply

  48. Rachel says

    To leave the grooves or not? If not, how do I get rid of them?! I think the grooves give a “country” style look after being painted. I am revamping my office which has an entire wood panel wall. The rest of the walls are “normal” 1970’s textured white paint. What are your thoughts?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We think they’re clean vertical texture when they’re painted, so they seem to work with our modern aesthetic! We just shared our kitchen yesterday (we painted the cabinets white) and it’s a room full of painted paneling! Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  49. Raina says

    My husband and I are purchasing a business with a LARGE room of wood paneling. We are on a tight budget and will be painting according to your instructions above but due to the large space I was wondering if we would be as successful if we used a professional sprayer instead of rolling?

    Any tips on where to look (online or otherwise) for complementary colors when painting the tiles as well as the panel walls as we need to do both?

    Thank you for the great instructions and blog posts.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, I would be worried about controlling it (non-pros who use sprayers sometimes have issues with spots or drips) so I think a paint brush and roller really would be the recommended way for anyone without tons of sprayer experience but that’s just one opinion. You might be great! As for tips on picking colors, I’d just bring a ton of swatches home and hold them up and see which ones complement each other the most!

      xo,
      s

  50. Patty says

    I love your blog and am finally getting around to commenting, because i’ve been searching your site and can’t find my answer…

    I would like to paint over our trim and the doors in our home, which are all the lovely orangy/brownish look (not a nice pretty wood – and it’s cheaper to cover than replace), but what would you recommend to paint a stained door? I’m thinking the process would be similar to painting the paneling, but I would love to hear your thoughts! I don’t want to paint all the doors and then have the paint ‘scrape’ off, as I’ve seen happen often. Oil based primer? 1? 2? coats?

    (I have no idea if you will even see a comment on a really old post! But I have to ask, because as we work on our house, my response to my husband is always, “well on younghouselove they did …”, so you have become my DIY expert! :)

    Thanks!
    Patty

    Reply

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