Covering Paneling?

Question

My house is covered in paneling it wasnt so bad when I moved in but now Iam so sick of looking at it.I would love just plain white walls or even a splash of color but I have no idea what colors would look good or where to even go from here.

Whats the best way to cover paneling? Paintable wallapaper or painting the paneling its self? If I wallpaper over the paneling will it destroy the paneling? wondering just in case I want to go back to the paneling.

Also what colors would look good? I have a wood floor.Right now my living room has Maroon curtains and a black and maroon couch.Help I just have no idea what iam doing lol ;)

Answer 1

I had a guy put on special wallpaper that is made to cover the paneling and it's grooves. You can paint on this wallpaper or paper over it. I've seen a lot of paneling that has been painted lately. To be honest it did not look bad at all. There are a lot of homes with paneling and this problem so I imagine that painting over it is common. As for the paint color in that room, a soft camel looks great with maroon, but yellow and sage does too. It all depends on your window treatments and pillows. Why don't you start there and pick some drapes/curtains that go nice with the maroon and add a couple of decorative pillows that harmonize and then pick your paint. You might find a color in the drapes that you can pull out of them and put on the walls. Start with your windows and go from there. Good Luck

Answer 2

I once had a house with paneling. It was nice, real wood paneling........but still paneling!! So I painted it. If it is real wood, with a distinct groove between the panels, prime all the grooves first. Then prime the walls. Then paint the grooves, and then the walls. It turned out really nicely. It looked a little "country" because of the grooves. But if it's just that 70's fake wood it will probably look smooth when you paint it.

For color, I would just go to the stores and grab all the paint flyers and color cards that you want. Start with a card the color of your curtains or the maroon in your couch. Then pick colors that either complement it (next to it on the color wheel) or contrast it (across from it on the color wheel).

You can also try http://www.bhg.com. They have a lot of ideas and you can use the "color a room" tool.

Answer 3

Take the paneling off, there is likely drywall underneath that you can paint. If not take the paneling off and put up drywall, you'll be way better off in the long run.

Answer 4

You have alot of choices....use kilz primer to cover the paneling.......then paint with regular paint or a semi gloss...You can also use sizing on it .....then put up prepasted wall paper.......You could use a chair rail....Paint the bottom part and paper the top....