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. 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!
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Comments
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
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??
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
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
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
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!
We used Water Chestnut by Glidden on the fireplace wall and Wishes by Glidden on the other three walls. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
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!
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
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
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
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:)
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
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!