<p>^^^ I used that years ago to put wallpaper up on textured walls. Maybe they have made a better product by now, but I didn’t love it. You have to REALLY make sure that it is adhered to the wall well (before covering the liner with your final product).</p>
<p>My previous house had a family room with two walls that were paneled. The longer wall also had built in bookshelves and the shorter wall had our brick fireplace (with paneling above). I painted it all and it looked far, far better! </p>
<p>I primed everything first and painted the panelling a light, warm color and the trim and fireplace mantel a slightly lighter color. One of them was called “butter cookie” by Behr, but I’m not sure which. I also added trim above the fireplace and filled in the panelling grooves there so it would look different. It came out OK, but what seemed like an easy task was actually quite difficult. The grooves were not easy to fill evenly and if you cover them with anything other than matte paint it will show up all that unevenness. This was a small area, maybe 4’ x 5’ and it took forever. </p>
<p>I can PM you before and after photos if you like. We also had someone come in and put travertine and slate tile over our brick fireplace and hearth and that looked a lot better too. When I moved, it was that room (particularly the fireplace) that I missed the most. </p>
<p>^I think sheet rocking over the paneling would involve having to take off the moulding, which she seems not to want to disturb.</p>
<p>I totally get not wanting the wood floor/wood wall “up north” cabin look. I’d paint the paneling with a high-quality paint with a nice sheen. I would leave the grooves.</p>
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<p>Who cares whether it is “in style”? The question is, do YOU like it? Does it suit the house?</p>
<p>There are some instances where IMHO one just should not make certain changes, no matter what: mostly historic houses. If you don’t like the period, don’t buy the house, don’t trash its authenticity. But it doesn’t sound as if that is the case here.</p>
<p>Is this real tongue and groove wood paneling, or is it those sheets? If sheets, although that sounds unlikely if most of the woodwork is higher end, I’d just rip it off and drywall the room. If it is tongue and groove, is it pine, or really pecan? If it’s pine, I’d paint it. If it’s pecan, search for pictures of hand-scraped pecan. It’s pretty amazing looking.</p>
<p>BTW, a darker room looks great decorated with rich colors.</p>
<p>Just asked DH…yes, it’s true tongue and groove wood. It fits the room, but I often wonder if its just us being used yo it and not seeing it anymore looking outdated. To bad we can’t attach photos here on this forum.</p>
<p>You could make the photo your profile picture…</p>
<p>Good idea…should have thought of that when I was discussing having a blepharoplasty…haha. I think I’ll do it. Need to tidy up the room first! Also have to figure out how to do that. I’ve never used my iPad camera before or downloaded. I’m such a dinosaur… Figured it out. This is early this morning, so no natural light in the room. I’ll put the other side if the FR later today so you can see that.</p>
<p>I’d also like to point out the carpet is a diamond shaped raised beige Berber. </p>
<p>After seeing the photo, I would keep the carpeting and the paneling in that room. It’s really cozy and nice. Plus you’ve got the beamed ceiling going on, which you’d have to deal with as well. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting wood floors in the majority of the house and leaving the family room as is.</p>
<p>I’d paint it. This look always reminds me of a basement or a cabin. </p>
<p>A friend of mine asked me for suggestions for her family room which was exactly like yours. She wanted a makeover. Her brick fireplace was flanked with dark wood bookshelves. The entire room was dark. I suggested she paint it. Her husband was so against it. But I told her nothing would really change since it was a major part of the room. Your eyes focus right away to all the wood.
We painted the wood a buttery white. We did not fill in the grooves. I liked the texture it gave to the walls. Paited the bookshelves, too. Custom painted and distressed the mantle. </p>
<p>It completely changed the room. It was as if she added windows to bring in the light. No matter how many people came over to see the room, everybody loved it. Not one negetive comment. Her husband likede it, too.</p>
<p>It’s just a very hard decision to make…cause once you paint it you can’t go back.</p>
<p>Maybe you could tack a sheet onto the wall to give you a rough idea?</p>
<p>Thanks for your comments. Like I said when I get home this afternoon, I’ll put the other side of the room on my profile so you can get a better “overall” look of the FR. I agree in this shot it looks like basement, but it doesn’t IRL. The room is 27" long and one end of the rectangular has a huge picture window, taking up 60% of the wall and it’s almost from floor to ceiling. The other end of the rectangle has a set of sliding glass doors that open up to our very light year round sunroom. But that’s the thing…we go back and forth. It’s such nice paneling that we feel guilty painting it and once we do we can never go back. But I also agree that it would really bring the room more up to date. We would purchase more up to date furniture, lights and accessories. RIght now I have tons of brushed brash in their, which has more aged, too. </p>
<p>I looked at the Pinterest examples of painted paneling and love the look. Choosing the right color seems to be critical, but as long as you go with a cream or warm white, the finished look will be amazing.</p>
<p>I would not fill in the grooves. They will actually add texture to the room. I think you’re going to have to paint the ceiling beams also. </p>
<p>Please do before and after photos for us! </p>
<p>After looking at your picture @conmama, I think your paneling is not so bad! </p>
<p>I also went back and reread your original post. It seems that you really appreciate and even like the details of the wood in your house - this room maybe just feels like “too much”. </p>
<p>A couple of ideas that do NOT include painting all the paneling.
- first of all, I would not paint the beams! I think they give the room character. You could also make all other changes and THEN decide whether painting the beams seems right or not. But don’t do it right away.
- is their paneling on more than one wall? I know you said that the couch wall has the most. Would you ever consider painting another smaller wall of paneling as a feature wall? - like perhaps the fireplace wall???
- if you put wood floors in, putting a color rich rug on the floor would help to take the focus away from all the wood and be a focal point. A really, really great rug with lots of interest can totally brighten up a room.
- think about other ways you could “change the room” without painting the paneling. New fixtures. New lamps. Lighter, larger or more colorful art work on the walls. A new coffee table that is not dark or has another texture that is not “wood”. It may be more cost efficient to get a fresh look this way.</p>
<p>I know it’s hard to make suggestions when you are only see 1/4 of a room…so I do appreciate everyone’s opinions. I think you will see why I won’t paint the ceiling beams when I replace this picture with another later this afternoon. It wouldn’t look right. @abasket, you are absolutely right…I love the wood and details, it’s just “too much” for this room and millinium (haha). It’s hard to see, but the beams don’t just have sharp corners, there’s very nice moulding on them, also, that I think is lovely. </p>
<p>I think we will have to paint the more I think of it is because we might take down a wall separating the kitchen (with drywall) and this room. Now, the ceilings in each area are different heights…the kitchen is lower by 6 inches. So, perhaps, we would do put up something on the wall that separates the two rooms (the paint color would be the same). DH really doesn’t want to start fooling around with the wood throughout the room, taking it off, etc…unless a contractor could guarantee him he wouldn’t ruin it. But I don’t even know how much that would cost…and if we could be cost effecient…but I"m getting into another thing now. These older homes! don’t even get me started on the 52 inch TV above my mantle that is so ugly, you’ll see it this afternoon…ruins my beautiful fireplace. Dh and sons won on that one. Really, there was nowhere to put a TV in this room that was easy to watch from all angles. </p>
<p>This looks (even from the 1/4 shot photo!) like a lovely room where your family spends a lot of time. Those types of rooms most likely have a tv and I’m convinced there is NO great set up for the tv to not look too obnoxious and not noticed! </p>
<p>Thanks for the nice compliment and we do LIVE in that room! We agonized over where to put a TV, but there was really nowhere for the big flat screens. There was a small area next to the fireplace that is meant for a TV, and we had it there for 15 years. The biggest we could fit was the old type of 26" and really only 2 people were truly comfortable watching it. Sometimes we want to just move and get a house that is more liveable…but the kids love the neighborhood and amenities, and have many friends here. And see the cup of coffee on the end table on the left side of the picture. That was where I was sit in the mornings reading CC on my IPAD having that first wonderful cup of Joe. </p>
<p>Another thing I plan on doing is getting rid of the coffee table. I love it because I decorate it up for the seasons, but we really need somewhere to put up our feet. We usually prop them up on the edge of that able, and that’s uncomfortable. So, I think we’ll end up with the huge ottoman look. Like you said, we may enjoy new updated laps, accessories, etc. </p>
<p>Ok…here is what I look at from the sofa.</p>
<p>I think you are really going to need to change the furniture, whether or not you paint the paneling. If you paint the paneling, your current furniture won’t go with the look. But I’d be inclined not to paint it. From this picture, it looks like a warm, lively feature. I agree with abasket that the unpaneled sections of wall painted in a rich color combined with a richly colored area rug–think 9x13 persian rug or whatever size would work in the room, or even several area rugs of that type–on a wood floor would look great. I can see the ottoman-style coffee table combined with different sofa and chairs. Right now <em>everything</em> is brown. It’s obviously very comfortable, but I think that may be what you are reacting to.</p>
<p>“But I’d be inclined not to paint it. From this picture, it looks like a warm, lively feature”</p>
<p>Love the paneling and absolutely agree with Consolation. The bricks of the fireplace break it up nicely so it does not look like a solid brown wooden wall. If you change the furniture and add some rugs, the room will not look too brown even with new hardwood floors. </p>
<p>Is that brass around your fireplace? You could also consider changing that out - not sure what options are out there but maybe something more updated. Let me know what you find if you look cause I need to change mine!!! </p>
<p>At our cottage we suffer from the “brown out”. The living area has brown paneling, brown carpet (yuck) and brown-based furniture. We are in the midst of making plans for a reno and let me tell you, that brown is going out!!! It’s so BROWN!!! </p>