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When we first looked at this house to buy one of the first things I said was that if we bought it, the paneling would HAVE to go! And go it did!
I did not want to sand it because we are in the dead of winter and can't open our windows, we have carpet in this room (despite how much I want to secretly ruin it so I can have wood floors), and it would have just been a huge mess. So I figured out a way I could paint wood paneling without sanding it!
Before we get started, I want to tell you that I am not a professional painter, nor do I claim to be. This worked for us and I am SUPER happy with the results! If you don't agree with something in this post, that's ok, don't do it : ) I won't be offended, I promise! Ok, now let's take a look at the before so you can see why I wanted to paint it oh so badly!
See, it's just not pretty! It made everything feel orange, old, and like you wanted to run out of the room screaming! Ok, maybe that was just me, but it was pretty bad!
So let's get some stuff together so we can get started ok! If you are wondering about the trim, I will be doing a separate tutorial on that in a few days.
Supplies:
Painter's Drop Cloths
Painter's Tape
Paintable Wood Filler
Putty knife
Appropriate grit Sandpaper
Zinsser Primer (I have never used another brand, and loved the results of this one)
Roller (for smooth surfaces) & Tray
Brush for cutting in
Top Coat paint color of your choice (we used Valspar's Signature Paint + Primer in Du Jour)
*Disclaimer - My wood paneling was in very rough shape and was not glossy at all. If yours has a nice finish on it, you should probably sand it, or at least rough it up a little. This is up to you though!
Tutorial: How to Paint Wood Paneling
I apologize in advance for some of the pictures. Most of this was done in the evening and at night while the kids were sleeping!
Ok, the very very first thing you want to do is wash your paneling down! This might feel useless, but I promise, you won't believe how dirty it is...unless you are one of those weirdos who cleans their walls on a regular basis ; ) Then tape off everything you don't want painted, and lay out your drop cloths! Yay for prep work! << complete sarcasm there!
Once that is done, I filled all my holes with some Wood Filler using my putty knife. At first my thought was "geez... what did these people do hammer a million nails into this paneling" Then I realized that I have plans to put a gallery wall in this very spot so I had to lay off the judgement! #whoops
Apply the wood filler following the manufacturer's directions. Don't forget to sand when it's dry, or you will see it through a little. I may or may not have forgotten to do this on my second round of filling holes!
Ok, you are ready for the primer! Mix it up good and let's get to work. First we brushed in all the little grooves to make sure the paint took well in those areas. I also went ahead and brushed a little over all my wood filler areas. This stuff dries really fast so by the time you are done with that you can probably start rolling.
We tried to apply it pretty thick the first time, but it still needed a second coat! If you have two people doing this, one can be cutting in while the other rolls. Guess who always get's to cut in... that would be me! YAY! << more sarcasm! After you are done rolling you will start to see progress! It's a beautiful thing!
So there it is with two coats of primer on it. As you can see there were some pretty big gaps between the different panels. This wasn't noticeable until we painted it white. So using my putty knife I filled those gaps with wood filler and the ran the putty knife down the seam so that it just looked like another groove instead of the "deeper" gap. You don't want to just make it a flat surface because then it will look a little off with the pattern of your groves. So if you can do this BEFORE you prime then you can move on... if you are like me and forget, add a little more primer over that wood filler and then you can catch up to all the more prepared people ; )
We let the primer cure for a week before adding the next coat of paint on. We were really trying to sway toward the more cautious side since we did absolutely no sanding. So once that was cured we pulled out our paint. This is the really really fun part! You will love it, I promise. We went with Valspar's Signature Paint that has paint +primer. We figured the extra primer wouldn't hurt! : ) I used a satin finish in the color "Du Jour". It is white... I just didn't want straight out of the can, blind you when you look at it white. This is just a little dulled in the white factor. But it still looks like a crisp clean white. I love it! I'm fairly certain this will be the color of my future kitchen cabinets!
We only applied one coat of the top coat because it just looked great when we were done! We did have to do two coats where we cut in with a brush though. Again, we applied it really really thick, so you might want to apply a second coat, especially if your wood really seems to be soaking up the paint! Now you can sit back and enjoy your orange to white beautifulness!
Let's take a final look:
I just love it! It's exactly what I pictured and I can't wait to start hanging some thing on the wall! : )
Here it is in another area of my dining room. It looks great next to my new wall color! Well... one big project down, lots more to go! I'm just thrilled to finally be getting to do some of the things I love most! I'll be sharing more projects soon, especially once this snow decides to melt away and let me get me work on outside!
So do you have an wood paneling you have been dying to paint?
Leslie
Love this tutorial! Thanks for sharing. The finished product is great.
Ashley
Thank you Leslie!
Ms Rozanna Murayama
Loved this!!!
Ashley
Thanks so much!!
Leslie
Love this tutorial! Thanks for sharing. The finished product is great.
Ashley
Thank you Leslie!
Ms Rozanna Murayama
Loved this!!!
Ashley
Thanks so much!!
Emily Smith // The Best of this Life
This is such a well-done tutorial! I couldn't imagine tackling a project like that without such an informative HOW-TO!!! I would otherwise be overwhelmed. We are looking to purchase a home this year and you never know when this could come in handy. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ashley
Thank you Emily! So glad you like it. I always get nervous posting tutorials like that.. thus all my disclaimers. lol. It was so hard for me to look past some of the stuff when we were looking for a house, thank goodnes for Pinterest or I would have been scared to death!
Emily Smith // The Best of this Life
This is such a well-done tutorial! I couldn't imagine tackling a project like that without such an informative HOW-TO!!! I would otherwise be overwhelmed. We are looking to purchase a home this year and you never know when this could come in handy. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ashley
Thank you Emily! So glad you like it. I always get nervous posting tutorials like that.. thus all my disclaimers. lol. It was so hard for me to look past some of the stuff when we were looking for a house, thank goodnes for Pinterest or I would have been scared to death!
Patti
Every time I have seen painted paneling, I love it.
Ashley
Thank you Patti!
Patti
Every time I have seen painted paneling, I love it.
Ashley
Thank you Patti!
Crystal
You cracked me up with the sarcasm. I would be exactly the same. I always get stuck painting the trim which is the hardest part. It looks beautiful! I couldn't even tell that it was paneling. My mom has always painted paneling in the three houses that she has owned. It seems she always buys a house with paneling even though she hates it....funny. Looks great!!
Ashley
Haha, thanks Crystal! I'm quite often very sarcastic! Sometimes it comes off as rude in posts, so glad you found it funny ; ). Cutting in is always the worst. I'm very impatient and just like to see the end result! Where is my fairy godmother in those instances? lol
Crystal
You cracked me up with the sarcasm. I would be exactly the same. I always get stuck painting the trim which is the hardest part. It looks beautiful! I couldn't even tell that it was paneling. My mom has always painted paneling in the three houses that she has owned. It seems she always buys a house with paneling even though she hates it....funny. Looks great!!
Ashley
Haha, thanks Crystal! I'm quite often very sarcastic! Sometimes it comes off as rude in posts, so glad you found it funny ; ). Cutting in is always the worst. I'm very impatient and just like to see the end result! Where is my fairy godmother in those instances? lol
Carrie This Home
Great tutorial! What a difference paint and a little elbow grease makes! It looks much more fresh and clean now!
Ashley
Thanks Carrie, it definitely took some elbow grease, but so worth it in the end!
Carrie This Home
Great tutorial! What a difference paint and a little elbow grease makes! It looks much more fresh and clean now!
Ashley
Thanks Carrie, it definitely took some elbow grease, but so worth it in the end!
Bonnie Mauney
Oh what a difference! That was a LOT of work for you guys and ya'll did a great job! Perfect!
Ashley
It was a HUGE difference! So happy we finally pushed through and got it done! Thanks for stopping by Bonnie!
Bonnie Mauney
Oh what a difference! That was a LOT of work for you guys and ya'll did a great job! Perfect!
Ashley
It was a HUGE difference! So happy we finally pushed through and got it done! Thanks for stopping by Bonnie!
Abby
Your walls look so beautiful! I've been tackling the same thing at my house, except mine are pine board paneling. All that cutting in is such a pain isn't it? It's so worth it though, the result is always so pretty! Oh, and I don't sand first either...yay for breaking the rules!
Ashley
Thank you Abby! Just hopped over to your blog, LOVE the difference in your hallway, and those floors are to die for! I'm following you on bloglovin now! I love your house : ) Can't wait to read more! Have a great day!
Abby
Your walls look so beautiful! I've been tackling the same thing at my house, except mine are pine board paneling. All that cutting in is such a pain isn't it? It's so worth it though, the result is always so pretty! Oh, and I don't sand first either...yay for breaking the rules!
Ashley
Thank you Abby! Just hopped over to your blog, LOVE the difference in your hallway, and those floors are to die for! I'm following you on bloglovin now! I love your house : ) Can't wait to read more! Have a great day!
Amy | Club Narwhal
Holy cow, what a difference a little paint makes! This is a great way to brighten up dated wood panels--totally love it 🙂
Ashley
Thank you Amy! I love how much of a difference paint makes!
Amy | Club Narwhal
Holy cow, what a difference a little paint makes! This is a great way to brighten up dated wood panels--totally love it 🙂
Ashley
Thank you Amy! I love how much of a difference paint makes!
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees}
I am lucky I don't have paneling, but I do love the look of the after. It's very pretty!
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees}
I am lucky I don't have paneling, but I do love the look of the after. It's very pretty!
Emily
I love the bright white! So bright and airy!
Ashley
Thanks Emily! It is so much brighter!
Emily
I love the bright white! So bright and airy!
Ashley
Thanks Emily! It is so much brighter!
Sheryll & Critters.
Thank you for sharing this because I am so very wanting to paint paneling that stretches a tiny, narrow rectangle combo living room/dining room. It was new paneling when I bought the house, but I hated it upon first sight and it is just waaaay too much wood for me. And since a previous owner took out the only living room window and installed a fireplace, it is so dreary and dark...... sigh. Even with a huge mirror that runs the entire mantle, it is just dark and dreary. I would have never thought of the seams showing that much, so for this I thank you ever so much.
Ashley
I'm so glad you like the tutorial Sheryll! It definitely brightens up the room, and I love the look of white paneling too! Would love to see how yours turns out if you ever decide to paint it! : )
Sheryll & Critters.
Thank you for sharing this because I am so very wanting to paint paneling that stretches a tiny, narrow rectangle combo living room/dining room. It was new paneling when I bought the house, but I hated it upon first sight and it is just waaaay too much wood for me. And since a previous owner took out the only living room window and installed a fireplace, it is so dreary and dark...... sigh. Even with a huge mirror that runs the entire mantle, it is just dark and dreary. I would have never thought of the seams showing that much, so for this I thank you ever so much.
Ashley
I'm so glad you like the tutorial Sheryll! It definitely brightens up the room, and I love the look of white paneling too! Would love to see how yours turns out if you ever decide to paint it! : )
Katie Goldsworthy
Awesome! Glad to see what primer you used. Something I always wonder about when starting projects like this! Thanks for linking it up at Monday Funday!
Katie Goldsworthy
Awesome! Glad to see what primer you used. Something I always wonder about when starting projects like this! Thanks for linking it up at Monday Funday!
Katie
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I'm moving into a new classroom in September and the walls are all outdated wood panelling. It makes me cringe! Thank you so much for posting this awesome tutorial - I'm definitely going to paint it before the school year begins.
Katie
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I'm moving into a new classroom in September and the walls are all outdated wood panelling. It makes me cringe! Thank you so much for posting this awesome tutorial - I'm definitely going to paint it before the school year begins.
Christina Johnson
I hope to do this in November! I hope it won't be too cold, 🙂
Ashley
It shouldn't be too bad, just make sure you get the low VOC paint... it makes a big difference as far as the smell goes! : ) Good luck!
Christina Johnson
I hope to do this in November! I hope it won't be too cold, 🙂
Ashley
It shouldn't be too bad, just make sure you get the low VOC paint... it makes a big difference as far as the smell goes! : ) Good luck!
Michael Harris
Now it looks like it worth a million dollars. Kalia Floors
Michael Harris
Now it looks like it worth a million dollars. Kalia Floors
Dana
So, your posts are awesome! 🙂 I have been looking for tutorials on how to create shaker style cabinets and found few, but they were not as helpful as yours! Also, paneling and painting it! I am living your renovation life! I have flat solid wood cabinets with panel wood walls. All ORANGE! And I'm about to go cray cray!!!!! 🙂 So thanks for inspiring and teaching me how to change all that! 🙂
-DF
Ashley
Haha! Thanks so much Dana! Yes the orange wood can really get to person ; ) I'm so glad you found it helpful. I always wonder if people can understand what I'm trying to explain lol! Good luck with your renovations! : )
Dana
So, your posts are awesome! 🙂 I have been looking for tutorials on how to create shaker style cabinets and found few, but they were not as helpful as yours! Also, paneling and painting it! I am living your renovation life! I have flat solid wood cabinets with panel wood walls. All ORANGE! And I'm about to go cray cray!!!!! 🙂 So thanks for inspiring and teaching me how to change all that! 🙂
-DF
Ashley
Haha! Thanks so much Dana! Yes the orange wood can really get to person ; ) I'm so glad you found it helpful. I always wonder if people can understand what I'm trying to explain lol! Good luck with your renovations! : )
Taylor
I just came across this tutorial and I'm SO thankful I did. We are in the process of closing on our first home and it's full of wood paneling. I told my husband that was the first thing we would paint that wood paneling immediately. This tutorial will be right by my side during the whole process. Thanks!!
Taylor
I just came across this tutorial and I'm SO thankful I did. We are in the process of closing on our first home and it's full of wood paneling. I told my husband that was the first thing we would paint that wood paneling immediately. This tutorial will be right by my side during the whole process. Thanks!!
Architecte decoration peinture
Very good job ,when you paint in white the wall of wood after finish i think you must have see that the room looks bigger and the others object looks prettier .Wood is beautiful but no in all the wall !
Ashley
Agreed! I love wood tones, but orange colored wood on the wall.. not so much 😉 And yes, it felt HUGE after we were done! Thanks for stopping by!
Architecte decoration peinture
Very good job ,when you paint in white the wall of wood after finish i think you must have see that the room looks bigger and the others object looks prettier .Wood is beautiful but no in all the wall !
Ashley
Agreed! I love wood tones, but orange colored wood on the wall.. not so much 😉 And yes, it felt HUGE after we were done! Thanks for stopping by!
Devis peinture
And if you protect every thing before you start to paint like windows ,doors . ,you can apply by a painting sprayer the result is gorgeous i try in my kitchen it was just beautiful in a glossy white color .
Devis peinture
And if you protect every thing before you start to paint like windows ,doors . ,you can apply by a painting sprayer the result is gorgeous i try in my kitchen it was just beautiful in a glossy white color .
cat
i did this same thing with my house before i saw this but i used joint compound and practically covered everything i couldnt stand the sight of that paneling but didnt have the money to replace all the walls and id have to say it turned out well
cat
i did this same thing with my house before i saw this but i used joint compound and practically covered everything i couldnt stand the sight of that paneling but didnt have the money to replace all the walls and id have to say it turned out well
Andrea Grulke
I love it. We did this to our kitchen 4 years ago. I couldn't stand the paneling a second longer. I painted it an off white. We sanded it but it had trouble sticking. I see you did a primer before paint. I used the Valspar paint with premier. But I see the extra primer is a must need. We have had to touch up paint numerous times,because the paint had trouble sticking. I am getting ready to tackle the basement, that was finished in 1960. The bar is positioned wrong. And feels like an orange dungeon, I am surrounded by paneling. I just want to get some faux stone accent the wall by the bar, move the bar a bit and accent stone, then paint the rest of the ugly paneling. I will try the premier before premier and paint this time. Great tutorial!! Sanding was a pain on our kitchen!! But painted paneling is the best!
Andrea Grulke
I love it. We did this to our kitchen 4 years ago. I couldn't stand the paneling a second longer. I painted it an off white. We sanded it but it had trouble sticking. I see you did a primer before paint. I used the Valspar paint with premier. But I see the extra primer is a must need. We have had to touch up paint numerous times,because the paint had trouble sticking. I am getting ready to tackle the basement, that was finished in 1960. The bar is positioned wrong. And feels like an orange dungeon, I am surrounded by paneling. I just want to get some faux stone accent the wall by the bar, move the bar a bit and accent stone, then paint the rest of the ugly paneling. I will try the premier before premier and paint this time. Great tutorial!! Sanding was a pain on our kitchen!! But painted paneling is the best!
Elaine Barham
Any suggestions for painting pecky cypress? It is stained orange and has lots and lots of holes, a few as big as a quarter. I hate it and want to paint but the large holes will be hard if not impossible to fill. It will take forever to fill the smaller holes. What was the builder thinking?
Elaine Barham
Any suggestions for painting pecky cypress? It is stained orange and has lots and lots of holes, a few as big as a quarter. I hate it and want to paint but the large holes will be hard if not impossible to fill. It will take forever to fill the smaller holes. What was the builder thinking?
Ashley
Hi Elaine, I apologize for the delayed response! I don't really have any experience painting pecky cypress. You might just consider putting panelling over the cypress if you are wanting to avoid filling the holes, but I've never worked with that type of cypress before.. although I do hear it's beautiful!
DeEtta
I did mine the same way. I was told it wouldn't take 2 coats if I would have sanded it, but I sanded one wall, and I couldn't tell any difference.
DeEtta
I did mine the same way. I was told it wouldn't take 2 coats if I would have sanded it, but I sanded one wall, and I couldn't tell any difference.
Jenifer
Yes I do it's awful thanks for sharing I'm going to do mine!
Jenifer
Yes I do it's awful thanks for sharing I'm going to do mine!
Tika Sendelweck
I share your disdain for paneling. You did a super job. I have some awful stuff half way up in the bathroom and I'm NOT going to sand it. Nor am I going to fill in like you did, although I probably should. I'm going to paint it per your instructions and tell everyone it's wainscoatmg! They'll probably know it's not but they'll accept it because they want to do the same thing! I'm basically a pretty lazy person and I'm all for short cuts that look fabulous. Thanks for the tutorial.
Tika Sendelweck
I share your disdain for paneling. You did a super job. I have some awful stuff half way up in the bathroom and I'm NOT going to sand it. Nor am I going to fill in like you did, although I probably should. I'm going to paint it per your instructions and tell everyone it's wainscoatmg! They'll probably know it's not but they'll accept it because they want to do the same thing! I'm basically a pretty lazy person and I'm all for short cuts that look fabulous. Thanks for the tutorial.
Michelle
Great jog and thanks for sharing. Would you mind sharing the pretty wall color next to your new white panelling?
Ashley
Hi Michelle. It is called Palladian Blue from Benjamin Moore : )
Michelle
Thanks for the reply. You did a great job on your room. Merry Christmas!
Michelle
Great jog and thanks for sharing. Would you mind sharing the pretty wall color next to your new white panelling?
Ashley
Hi Michelle. It is called Palladian Blue from Benjamin Moore : )
Michelle
Thanks for the reply. You did a great job on your room. Merry Christmas!
Eowyn West
Hello there! Thank you for this tutorial! I just purchased a 48 year old house with dark wood paneling throughout the family room. Although it is beautiful and seems to be of a high quality paneling, it really depresses me. I need to make it lighter! I just wanted to know if you could please share the name/brand of paintable wood filler you used on your paneling. Thank you so much!
Eowyn West
Hello there! Thank you for this tutorial! I just purchased a 48 year old house with dark wood paneling throughout the family room. Although it is beautiful and seems to be of a high quality paneling, it really depresses me. I need to make it lighter! I just wanted to know if you could please share the name/brand of paintable wood filler you used on your paneling. Thank you so much!
Evan
Nice job making ugly paneling beautiful!
Evan
Nice job making ugly paneling beautiful!
rachel straw
What did you clean the paneling with before you painted?
Ashley
I believe I just used an old rag and made a small bucket of bleach water and let it fully dry. I did that twice just to make sure I got everything.
rachel straw
What did you clean the paneling with before you painted?
Ashley
I believe I just used an old rag and made a small bucket of bleach water and let it fully dry. I did that twice just to make sure I got everything.
J
This looks fantastic! I’m about to paint my porch so this is very helpful considering I too am NOT a professional painter. I’m sure I’m going to have to put a different kind of sealant on it since it’ll be outside. Do you think there would have been any difference if you had sanded it?
J
See? I told you about not being a professional painter, lol. https://www.house4baby.com/blog/2018/2/2/front-porch-part1
Ashley
Our's was pretty smooth so I don't think it would have made much of a difference for us. If you are using it on a porch, I'd definitely make sure and use an outdoor paint. I'm a big fan of Behr's Porch and Floor paint. I'd totally use that on paneling on a porch. It's a very durable paint, and rated to be used on porches, so you might want to look into that ; ). I would still prime though.
J
This looks fantastic! I’m about to paint my porch so this is very helpful considering I too am NOT a professional painter. I’m sure I’m going to have to put a different kind of sealant on it since it’ll be outside. Do you think there would have been any difference if you had sanded it?
J
See? I told you about not being a professional painter, lol. https://www.house4baby.com/blog/2018/2/2/front-porch-part1
Ashley
Our's was pretty smooth so I don't think it would have made much of a difference for us. If you are using it on a porch, I'd definitely make sure and use an outdoor paint. I'm a big fan of Behr's Porch and Floor paint. I'd totally use that on paneling on a porch. It's a very durable paint, and rated to be used on porches, so you might want to look into that ; ). I would still prime though.
Mommy
It's been a while now. How did it hold up? I used patching plaster to fill the grooves and holes in ours. I did not sand. I did not use primer. I didn't even use paint with primer built in. I just put two coats of satin latex paint on it. The wall wasn't particularly glossy or particularly rough to begin with. The paint covered well, but it scratched in a few places (within 24 hours, with the roller-- which, to be fair, can happen on any surface). Glidden said that it can take 30 days for latex paint to reach maximum hardness, so I'm not sure if it will scratch so easily once it has more time to cure. I guess I could sand and prime a section as see how it compares. But since you also have kids, I thought I'd just ask you if you had any issue with toys scuffing it or anything.
Mommy
It's been a while now. How did it hold up? I used patching plaster to fill the grooves and holes in ours. I did not sand. I did not use primer. I didn't even use paint with primer built in. I just put two coats of satin latex paint on it. The wall wasn't particularly glossy or particularly rough to begin with. The paint covered well, but it scratched in a few places (within 24 hours, with the roller-- which, to be fair, can happen on any surface). Glidden said that it can take 30 days for latex paint to reach maximum hardness, so I'm not sure if it will scratch so easily once it has more time to cure. I guess I could sand and prime a section as see how it compares. But since you also have kids, I thought I'd just ask you if you had any issue with toys scuffing it or anything.