Say goodbye to the dark and dated paneling in your home! Learn what you need to buy and exactly how to give your room an updated fresh and contemporary style with paint.
DESIGN + STYLE | Published January 29, 2025
It’s no secret that paint is the easiest and most cost-effective way to update a space.
While painting walls can always lead to a dramatic before and after, the biggest change you’ll ever see comes after painting dated paneling. You know the type from the 1970s and 80s that tends to make your rooms feel smaller and closed in?
Although the installation itself may appear out-of-date, the idea of vertical panels is trending now. They are one of the easiest ways to give the illusion of height to a room and add visual interest to your walls. After a few coats of paint, it is hard to distinguish between newly installed tongue and groove boards verses 1980s paneling!
This article is going to teach how easy it is to embrace the dated paneling covering your walls while bringing your room into the modern age.
Types Of Paneling
There are a couple different types of paneling that may be covering your walls and they require a slightly different treatment.
- Real Wood: Paneling that is made of real wood boards or panels is the most authentic looking and is easy to cover with a few coats of primer and latex wall paint. It may be installed as shiplap, tongue and groove, wainscotting, or board and batten.
- Veneer or “Fake Wood”: The 1970s and 80s brought about a trend of using medium density fiberboard (MDF) 4’x8’ panels that were adhered to a thin sheet of real wood. They were a trendy, affordable option for updating the home at the time, but most now see the paneling as having a dark and dated look.
The good news is that regardless of what type of paneling you have in your home, a couple coats of paint can be transformative. For the sake of this post, we’ll be discussing how to update the veneer or “fake wood” paneling with paint.
Supplies You'll Need to Paint Paneling
You can find these supplies at your local hardware store, Lowes, Home Depot, or online using the links provided.
- Spackle and Putty Knife
- Painter’s Tape: Even if you normally feel confident cutting in without taping first, you may find it easier to get down into the groove of the paneling near the ceiling and baseboards with the added protection of the painter's tape.
- Drop Cloths: I normally pick a few plastic drop cloths up at Dollar Tree.
- Angled Paint Brush: Used for cutting in around the ceiling and trim as well as painting the v-grooves in the paneling.
- Paint Roller and Tray: A 5/16” or 1/2” microfiber roller will give the nicest finish to your paneled walls and eliminate brush strokes.
- Zinsser BIN Shellac Stain Blocking Primer: This is essential to ensure that the tannins in the wood do not bleed through and discolor your painted walls. It also helps paint adhere to the slick wall and avoid damage from scratches later on.
- Latex Interior Paint in either satin or eggshell finish.
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How to Paint Dated Wood Paneling
Preparation is key when painting wood paneling. Although it may take awhile to get the room ready, the prep ensures that your painted surface will hold up over time.
STEP 1: Move all of the furniture into the center of the room or out if possible.
STEP 2: Cover the floor with a drop cloth and remove switch plate and electrical socket covers.
STEP 3: Clean the walls with water, a mild detergent and damp cloth to remove any dirt or grime. If the walls are especially grimy, try Krud Kutter, TSP Substitute. Allow the walls to dry thoroughly.
STEP 4: Tape any areas that you don’t want to paint, like where the paneling meets the ceiling and the baseboards and other trim work.
STEP 5: Fill in any nail holes or imperfections using a putty knife and spackling. Sand if necessary when dry.
STEP 6: Prime the walls with a shellac-based stain blocking primer. Use an angled paint brush to paint in the grooves and a roller for the panels. Two coats is best for maximum stain blocking.
STEP 7: When the coats of primer have had adequate drying time, paint the walls with two coats of your latex paint, allowing two to four hours drying time between each coat. If the paint color still looks inconsistent after it dries, you may need a third coat.
STEP 8: Score the edges of the painter’s tape with a utility knife and peel it up immediately to prevent the paint from peeling.
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Paneling Painting Tips
- Shellac-based primer has quite an odor, so be sure that you open windows to ventilate as you work.
- Don’t overload your brush or roller with too much paint or press too hard with the roller. It will get caught in the grooves and cause drips and an uneven finish.
- While you are using a brush to paint in the grooves, paint will accumulate on the panel area. Take a moment as you work to feather out this paint so that you don’t end up with an unsightly raised edge.
- You are better to apply more thin layers than one thick layer. It dries better and is less likely to crack.
- Inspect sections of the wall as you get done for drips or runs to fix while they are still wet.
- Give each coat between two to four hours to dry. If you try to apply a second coat while the first is wet, it can peel, streak, or clump.
- If you are doing a whole-room remodel, start with painting the ceiling, then the trim, and finish with painting the paneling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have some questions about making painting your own paneling? Here are the answers to a few that are frequently asked. If you don’t see your question answered here, feel free to send me an email and I’ll be happy to help.
Isn't It Easier to Just Rip Paneling Off?
When remodeling, it can be tempting just rip the panels off the wall rather than paint. But there are a few reasons why painting is a better option for homeowners.
- Many times, panels were installed using both nails and construction adhesive. Tearing off the paneling can cause significant damage to the drywall, to the point that you may have to replace it.
- Sometimes, the panels were installed directly to the studs as a cost-saving measuring. You may rip down the panels to find that nothing exists behind it.
Should Paneling Be Sanded Prior to Painting?
This is a matter for debate, because of the slick surface of the paneling. Some believe this is important, but I have found that after two coats of primer, the paint adheres nicely to the wall.
If this makes you nervous, try wiping on a liquid deglosser or give the walls a light sanding with a medium grit sandpaper.
It isn’t necessary to remove the finish completely, but rather just scuff up the surface so the paint has something to adhere to.
In about a day, you can completely change the look of your dark and dated paneled room, adding character for not a lot of money!
More Design Posts You Might Find Useful
Adding Contrasting Trim - Inspiration and tips for setting your painted wall off with darker baseboards and mouldings.
Living Room Reveal - See more about the makeover of my paneled fixer upper living room pictured in this post.
Modern Entryway Reveal
Everything You Need to Know about Renovating on a Budget
Choosing a Kitchen Backsplash - Your guide to finding the perfect tile, layout, and grout color.
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