Yes….please do! 🙂 I will qualify that with it depends a little on the paneling but if it is the large sheets from the 60's and 70's usually yes.
Paneling is dated, dark and not wanted by buyers. Painting you dated paneling is a way to update your current home right now and have it pay off in selling later.
It is more economical than tearing it down and replacing drywall but that may need to be done if you are looking for a clean lines.
Here is a recent project I did of a 1960's lake cabin. In a couple rooms the paneling had been painted but stark white. A couple of the rooms still had the dark paneling.
This is a small (emphasis on small) 1960s rambler that the owner plans to enjoy for a couple years and then sell. They wanted it updated but without any major renovation and furniture purchased that would fit the beachy lake side setting yet be comfortable for a family of four. That is doable!
So let's see what I did:
The room that was built as the Dining Room in the back of the house was in my opinion the best place for the family to hang out and watch movies.
So with some color that was a bit darker for that movie area yet fun for the beach, and a small comfy sectional added the room comes to life.
So let's check out those kitchen cabinets……..not so attractive. The paneling is even on the refrigerator!!
Again…no renovations of any kind. Just some paint and new cabinet pulls and here is the kitchen now.
This room was originally the living room. WAY to small to get any kind of comfortable furniture for four people in here so I decided to mix it up and have this room become the dining room. The odd shape and weird space at the end also needed to be addressed as well as storage. The small house has no storage to speak of.
Here are a series of before and afters and my solution.
Paneling? What Paneling?? The ceiling beams and fireplace were previously lost in a sea of wood. Look at those stunning ceiling beams and fireplace now!!
Let check out the bedrooms that had been both been painted white. The little boys room I decided to keep white and bring in bright colors with the fishing that they love.
The Master Bedroom was way too stark in white:
With the walls painted Sea Salt this Master Bedroom is now a tranquil lake side room to retreat to after a full day in the sun:
One more room. The sun porch overlooking the lake. This dark dated paneling was not the light airy spot it should be.
By brining in a soft blue, there is now no better place to watch the sun set over the lake:
Are you still wondering if you can paint your wood paneling? Yes please do!! And go ahead and paint those dated wood kitchen cabinets too!
Shar Sitter, owner Rooms With Style Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis MN.
CHSE and APSD Home Stager Pro Trainer
952-567-1124
