What to know about painting wood paneling

Painted Wood paneling is making a design comeback, but now with a modern twist. Nowadays, people who kept their old wood paneling are creatively styling it, so it’s sleek and contemporary. If you have some old wood paneling in your home, or you want to install new wood paneling, the professionals at Spectra Painting Contractors in Boston are here to share a few things to know.

What is Wood Paneling?

Wood paneling is a type of wall covering that was super popular in the 1960s and into the 1970s. The wood paneling in most homes was very thin cuts of wood or made of plastic that looked like actual wood. Sometimes it looked good; other times, not so much.

Today, wood paneling is once again becoming a design statement found in homes and offices, but not in the same way it was in the past. Wood paneling can be used to create depth in a room or serve as a more organic-looking wall accent.

Wood paneling made today is a genuine hardwood veneer as opposed to solid wood panels that were popular in the 60s and 70s. The paneling also comes with better mounting systems for attaching it to the wall, more options for edges, and it is available in custom sizes.

There is a wide range of exotic wood types to choose from with modern wood paneling, such as wenge, mahogany, zebrawood, Macassar, or teak. There are also options like reclaimed wood and shiplap to achieve a more rustic look.

New wood paneling today costs anywhere between $11 to $400 based on the material and size.

Should you paint your Wood Paneling?

If your wood paneling is damaged, or you’d prefer to leave the 1960s completely behind you, there are ways to paint wood paneling. Painting can make your outdated wood paneling look like an intentional contemporary design choice. Plus, wood paneling can be expensive to remove and replace, so painting is an affordable way to spruce up your old wood paneling without blowing your budget.

Before you get on the phone to call a professional team of painters, keep in mind that there’s no going back once you paint over your wood paneling. So, if the 1960s do make a groovy comeback, you will have to start from scratch. Ya, dig?

How Wood Paneling gets painted:

Painting wood paneling does require some prep work. The wood paneling and molding will need a thorough wipe with a damp rag to clear off any dust, dirt, and cobwebs. A diluted TSP (trisodium phosphate) solution can help cut through any nasty grime.

After it’s clean, the paneling will need to get filled and sanded to even out any uneven textures in the wood and remove any sheen. Most holes and cracks in the paneling can get filled with wood putty and a putty knife. Then all the paneling can lightly get sanded down with 100 or 150-grit sandpaper to help the new paint stick to the surface. Sometimes sanding isn’t necessary if you have a high-quality paint primer to use.

Next, a paintable caulk gets applied around the trim to fill gaps around pieces of paneling, windows, and doors. Once it’s dry, the wood and the wood trim around the edges can get primed with a thin layer of primer. Oil-based primers or a water-based stain-blocking primer works best. You can also opt to have the trim temporarily removed if you want to keep it the same color or if you want to paint it a new shade.

Once the primer is dry, it’s time to paint. Again, paint should get applied in thin coats. Usually, two coats of high-quality latex paint will do. Trim is the last thing to get painted usually using a glossier paint finish than what is on the walls.

Here are a few more expert tips for painting and styling wood paneling:

• If there’s just too much wood paneling for you to handle, you can allow parts of it to remain visible as a textured accent. Wood paneling looks best when styled with warmer colors or with contrasting tones.
• Instead of paint, you can whitewash wood paneling to tone down the color but still allow the old wood grain to show through.
• Another chic way to disguise wood paneling as a design statement is to paint the paneling a darker color like black or navy. Bold colors can also be a fun design twist if done well.
• Consider using paint to create a color block effect, so your walls are two-toned instead of one all-over color.
• Break up wood paneling with large pieces of furniture, oversized art, and bookshelves.

Final thoughts

Although there is some prep work required, painting your wood paneling can help achieve a clean and contemporary look in your home without needing to go through the process of removing your old wood paneling.

Be sure to work with a professional team of house painters to get the best results.

If you’re in the Boston area, Spectra Painting Contractors would be happy to help revive your old wood paneling with a fresh coat of paint. Give us a call today!