DIY Tuesday: How to easily paint over the wood paneling in your home

One of my first DIY project was painting over the wood paneling in our living room. My first instinct was to remove the paneling and install drywall, but I knew this was going to be a huge and costly project. After doing some research, I discovered that I could easily paint over the wood paneling by following a few simple steps, thereby saving myself valuable time and money.

Here are the materials you will need:

Mild detergent
Sandpaper
Primer (preferably Kilz)
Paint brush and roller
Painter's tape
Interior latex paint
Spackle
Drop cloth

The first step is to place a drop cloth on the floor and remove any dirt from the paneling with a mild detergent and water as a clean surface will give you a better result. After the paneling has been washed and dried, fill any holes or scratches with spackle and sand the entire paneling smooth. Remove any trace of dust with a damp cloth. Mask off the ceiling, baseboards and trim with the painter's tape. Now you are ready to prime. (This step is very important, as paneling is a very slick surface and the primer will help the paint to adhere to it.) Use the brush and cut-in the edges and corners of the paneling with primer as it is easier to use the brush in these areas. Apply a coat of primer to the paneling using the roller. After the primer has dried typically this takes about 24hrs, paint the paneling with an interior latex paint of your choice.

Simply painting over the paneling has transformed my living room into a bright, cheery and welcoming place.

Here are a few rooms with painted wood paneling that will inspire you:

                                                                All photos courtesy of Pinterest


What was the first DIY project that you tackled?