I recently bought a house that's covered in ancient wallpaper, and it's been a nightmare removing it! One room had this textured wallpaper on the paneling (check out the pic I linked). With a lot of expenses coming up, I'd quite like to avoid hiring someone to cover it with drywall. Is there a simpler, budget-friendly method for painting this paneling to make it look decent? I think the wallpaper was up for at least 20 or 30 years, so it definitely needs some love!
3 Answers
Honestly, a couple of coats of paint can work wonders, even on terrible paneling. Just make sure to use a high build primer, followed by a quality paint like Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore. I'd recommend a matte or flat finish since it conceals imperfections better. I’ve done this on various types of paneling, and they all turned out great! Trust me, covering with wallboard is going to cost you more in the long run! Just paint it!
To get this paneling looking good, I'd suggest starting with sanding it down first. Then, apply a solid primer before painting. I've painted a lot of paneling in the past, and trust me, proper prep work makes all the difference!
That's what I was hoping to do, too! The surface is a bit rough and there's a lot of leftover glue, but I'm planning to sand it well to achieve the best finish. This is my first time painting over paneling, so I'm a bit nervous!
Another option you might consider is to ‘upholster’ the paneling with fabric or even some nice sheets. It sounds a bit unconventional, but it really can hide a lot of imperfections and gives the room a cozy feel! Just make sure to staple it tightly and finish it off with some nice trim at the top and bottom. There are plenty of how-to videos online, too!
Love it! That's really encouraging to hear. I’m all for keeping it simple and saving some cash!