I will repeat! It is just wood. It will blow your mind when its painted. There ARE places for dark and cozy rooms...make no mistake about that. But they take a large amount of decorative skill, and they take a high level of lighting, accessorizing, to not look dreary. This appears to be your FAMILY room, and play space as well. You will get the single biggest bang for your dollar from paint, and a beautiful hardwood floor. Then a good furniture plan that accomodates your needs and also makes the most of the rooms poportions. Too many opinions will just confuse you, so get some trusted design help. You and your wallet will be thrilled.

How do you use the room? Are all your rooms really light or do you like darker rooms? You can glaze over the wood to give it a softer look without disguising the wood completely. Me, my first step: I would embrace the darkness and make it very loungy, if you want it to have that type of feel. Think about colors that would pop against the wood. The white ceiling is doing nothing for the wood. I would definitely add lighting, first off, and paint the ceiling in a mid/dark tone like either a rich gray or a gray-green or blue gray that would pop. I do not love the red draperies with that woodtone, plus the panels are hung way too low and make the ceiling seem very low. I would hang draperies just below ceiling height and only frame the windows, not cover them. I would do hardwood and cover it with seagrass, then maybe layer a faux zebra rug or something with some bold pattern and contrast to break up the space. I could see soft gray upholstery, some mirrors or artwork on the walls, and add some BLACK to the room—even keep your black chairs if they are in good condition but add a larger lighter upholstered piece to balance it out. The darkness of black will make the walls seem lighter. I would love to see wall sconces too.
But again, if you hate dark rooms you can have fun with it too. Paint it. Doesn't have to be white or cream. Could be a fun color and it will take away the seriousness of all that wood. It really depends what you are going for.

I love your idea of keeping the paneling and the inserts of grasscloth. I would ditch the carpet and consider putting stone (perhaps a french limestone, they are less yellow) then I would create 2 seating/gathering groups. 1 in front of your fireplace (sofa flanked with side tables facing the fireplace, cocktail table, and chairs on the sides--add a console table to the back of the sofa.) Then I would consider an alternate seating group/small table and chair type situation. Not sure what that room is adjacent to but consider something like a daybed and side table behind the sofa. I would do 2 rugs--they don't have to match--one for the main seating group and something complimentary for the other side.

Just my two cents, but I love the paneling (and usually hate it).

I'm with several others--you have an amazing detail here. If the clubby suggestions don't work for you, then lighten and light the rest and the walls will be your stars. Light neutrals with B&W to keep it crisp and timeless, lots and lots of texture. More architectural, less fluffy. *Nothing* trendy.

Add lights in the shelves, put a larger piece of art over the fireplace and light it, lose the chandelier and the 80s carpet (what's underneath?). Amazing windows--either off white sheers or nothing.

If you don't love the paneling, have it removed and let someone else love it, then sheetrock the walls. The paneling is the best thing in the photo! Look at the woodgrain. In 10 years you'll hate the paint. Lighter wood flooring, loose the drapes, better lighting (skylights or lighttubes?), Some brilliant greens & reds on light colored furniture. Cosy conversation circles. Gas fireplace to gather in front of. Check out Fires Of Tradition cast-iron mantel. Good luck.

Your paneling is gorgeous and although I love to tell people to paint paneling I can't say that for yours. I would put up lighter curtains, put down the hardwood flooring, but make it a mix of shades of wood, put a marble or tile surround in the fireplace front, hang a mirror over the fireplace, change out the shelving with glass but do not put mirrors on the rear walls. I would paint them a lighter cream to match the drapes/shades or install some beautiful grasscloth. Something with texture. I think you should also consider changing out all the dark furniture for lighter fabrics. Slip covered cottage style would change the feel fo the room immediately from old stuffy library to light and airy country. Good luck. I hope I'll get to see the changes you make.

LOISHAPI IS ON MY PAGE AND WHAT SHE SAYS IS ON THE MONEY. THAT "PARK AVENUE/OLD GREENWICH LIBRARY FEEL" IS NOT EASY OR INEXPENSIVE. ART AND LAMPS AND RUGS AND FABRICS BEAR DOUBLE THE BURDEN AGAINST A "WOOD" WALLED BACKDROP. THE VENEER OVER WHICH YOU WILL SLAP THE PAINT WILL NOT MIND A BIT. IT IS NOT SACRILEGE.

I think going light everywhere else in the room, and leaving the panelling, might be a place to start. Raise new, lighter curtain panels to ceiling height. Possibly paint the upper area on the fireplae wall, leaving the bottom cabinets to tie in the walls. A new fireplace surround will really change the wall. It would be fun to put some color paint or wallpaper behind the shelves to give it a fresh look. Better lighting will really let the room pop. We painted some really cheap wall panneling in our previous house, and it changed everything, however it was the cheap stuff. It might not be a bad idea to live with some smaller changes first. If budget permits, I think removing the panelling for someone else to use is a great option too. We have some oak panelling in our current kitchen, that I have promised to a friend. Ours happens to be solid wood.

There is paneling and there is paneling. Yours is the kind I would not paint. As someone else said, once you paint it you can't go back. What an awesome room that could be. Put a flat screen over the fireplace, get some killer window treatments and lighting, divide the seating into 2 groups to break the room up a bit, and get some cozy light carpeting. Also, hang more pictures! It's a gorgeous room!

I would do as much lightening up of everything else befor I would paint. Then if you still think it's dark, you can try painting only some of the areas first. I think some painted paneling looks too cottagey, so if that's not your style you should take it slow. You could also do a light wood on the floor with inlays of wood that are your paneling color.

Here are my suggestions:

- Add more light--replace the fixture for one more flush to the ceiling (the current fixture looks like it belongs in a dining room) and add many, many more recessed lights;
- Replace the drapes with some of a lighter color and have sufficient room on the sides that the drapes cover no part of the window when open;
- Replace the carpeting with a lighter tone of hardwood that coordinates well with the walls.
- Keep a mirror opposite the window to throw more light around the room.

I do not recommend painting the paneling. It is beautiful. Only cheap paneling should be painted. Instead, add light-toned paintings or prints in the insets that complement each other.

It would be great if you could post pictures of whatever you decide to do. Good luck!

Get rid of: the fireplace bricking, all of the outdated lighting, the curtains, the blue carpet and the fireplace setup.

Floor: a dark hardwood would be nice, but have you thought of just staining the concrete? Or large, dark tiling? The blue carpet is amusing.
Windows: maybe add wooden Venetian blinds.
Walls: try to keep the wood, please. It's old school in a nice way... lovely. I would stain it though, to a sleeker tone.
Bookcases: please don't put mirrors as the backing.. it reminds me of 70's swing parties. I think painting the backing would be better; maybe one piece of furniture's color to help bring the room together?
Lighting: track lighting inside the bookshelves or along the entire wall, floor lamps (because it is a huge space) and a couple of dimming ceiling lights (square or rectangular, if possible) would be great.
Colors: for painting & furniture -- go neutral! Green Stone, Green Smoke or Olive; Monkey Puzzle (blue family); and Biscuit (brown family) are my favorites. If you go with these, try to throw in some bright accents to liven up the dark (although I love dark colors), light on the lamp stand or couch pillows and throws. Try to add a bright-colored area rug to have the children's toys on, they add a lot to the room -- keep them.

I agree with calling a designer. They have a better chance of getting a better feel of you and the space in person. It is a great room that you could do ANYTHING with. Take advantage of its great qualities, like the windows and fireplace. Maybe hang some modern art or photographs or add an even bigger mirror opposite from the window, that would give an illusion of a more/wider space.

I would also love if you posted pictures of what your final decisions were!
I saw the other pictures in your main post.. you have a great place.

P.S. Have fun!

Other than leaving the paneling alone, you have 3 options: 1)paint all the paneling 2)paint the recessed portions 3)paint the raised portions. I think that, although #1 is the easiest, either option #2 or #3 would be more unique and more interesting. I think that I would tend to go with #2, which would end up giving you more painted space than wood. I would suggest a color, though, rather than just a white/cream. A green/gray would be very pretty with this wood tone. Add this color around the fireplace and on the backs of the bookcases (or this could even be another additional accent color). I like the idea of adding tile around the fireplace. At the risk of adding yet more wood, I would seriously consider adding some interest to the ceiling, since it is such a large expanse - maybe 2 beams or a tray look, to break it up, and then adding some spot lighting or wall washers in the ceiling. However, good lamp lighting will add soft and inviting light to the room.

Maybe it's just the photo, but the drapery rod looks unusually long. It is hung too low, also - raise it to just below the crown molding and it will help give the room a more vertical look. I would use a light background print fabric for stationary panels on each side and either solid-color fabric or woven wood blinds on the windows for privacy, if this is needed.

As far as the floor goes, I think you need some color and pattern in here. A very large oriental rug would be nice, whether over carpeting or over a wood floor. There are some very nice cut-and-loop carpet patterns out there, too, if you would rather go that route alone . With children, you are going to want something soft on the floor, and there is almost NOTHING worse than an undersized rug. Check on Ebay for very large (keyword: palatial) vintage oriental rugs - they can be a very good buy, because they don't fit in most homes (much cheaper than a new rug that size).

It looks like you have your chairs oriented to look

Hmmm...don't know what happened to the rest of my post! I was going to say, "oriented to look out the window". Put your couch on the wall where your chairs are, with either two swivel chairs under the window, or - if you need more seating - another couch under the window with swivel chairs facing the fireplace. You might also be able to fit two separate (adult/children?) seating areas in here by putting two couches back to back (kind of where the couch is now). Looking at the back of a couch as you enter the room, though, does not feel very inviting.

This is a large room and you are going to have a significant investment in it. I agree with the other comments to find a designer to work with. You don't have to spend a lot of money, but they could give you an overall plan which you could then implement on your own and in your own time frame.

Good luck - it's a great room and will be fantastic when you're done!

First, clear everything out of the room. That includes the drapes. Try going with a light, soft green carpeting or a stone floor. Whatever you do, DON'T paint the paneling. Men have a stroke over the idea of painted paneling. You could leave it just as it is but use light furnishings and a lighter carpet. Do not bring the toys back into the Den unless you have a place to store them so that they are out of sight when not in use. An "L" shaped sofa with one side running along the wall where the window is would give you ample seating, and TV viewing space. Pull your furniture closer together. Stay away from brown or black, dark blue or Maroon colors. Think in terms of light greens, linen,or creamy yellow upholstry. Opposite an "L" shaped sofa try two chairs, side by side, nothing over sized or in leather, however. A coffee table with a glass top and a chuky metal light fixture over the coffee table, in place of the one you now have would be attarctive. Whatever you do, stay away from small ditzy accessories and think of the room as a whole, not "this corner here, and that corner over there." Avoid clutter like death!

I am in the DO NOT PAINT camp.

I think great lighting and marble flooring would make a WORLD of difference in here.

It looks like this is a main living area for you. Your furniture has a more modern feel to it....you might consider painting the room a really pretty light gray. It looks like it would work well w/ your couch and leather chairs well and I would also maybe have some custom curtains made to hang at the top of the wall, your windows are beautiful and I think that would put more focus on them. Also I might place the couch and chairs across from one another in front of the window area to make more of a conversation area.

The floor will reflect light so either use a light hardwood like maple or beige carpet for bare feet. The panel fields can be cleaned of stain and provide a contrast of natural wood against the existing stains. Change the furniture and drapes to cream colors. Your light is all at one end, consider track lighting to bring the light to the entire room. Place mirrors at the back or your shelves to help reflect light back into the room. You can also add pale pictures on the panels to provide additional light areas without major reno investment.

I have a house with the exact same paneling (c1981). Beautiful in its' workmanship. Thought it was cozy when we bought it. It was freshly refinished with many polyurethane coats- nice n'shiny and reflective. I also, added tons of lighting; recessed lining the perimeter and some recessed directional lights washing the walls for artwork emphasis, few spots on particularly nice tables furniture etc. Have very light carpet/flooring too. The result? I'm going to start painting the paneling this month. No amount of 'layers of lighting' is enough. I truly believe the reason this type of paneling does not work is because of the lower (

I usually don't like panelling, but with this room, something inside me yelps that it would be a shame to get rid of it. I think that the rest of the room needs to change though, starting with the curtains and carpet. I love the pics that someone put up of the english gentlemans club.

I say paint the paneling 2 colors. Paint the recessed portions one color and the "trim" another. I would do white for the trim and a color on the recessed part. With 2 colors, you would have lots of options! Good luck.

Attention Walmart shoppers chanting "DON'T PAINT THE PLYWOOD" may I suggest using the money saved by not painting and shopping at Walmart, for a ticket overseas. Take a cultural tour of historical buildings and discover how ridiculous this discussion is.

you already have so many replies, I'm not sure if you need another opinion.
The main problem in this room is LIGHTING. Adding recessed lighting along the perimeter, and replacing the chandelier with two semi-flush decorative fixtures, or fans with lights would make a huge difference. Also, more table/floor lamps!
I would also suggest pulling up the carpet and adding wood or light stone floor with light area rug...oriental for more formal look, or sisal for more casual.

Where are you located btw...warm or cold climate?

Someone said painting wood is trendy these days. That is not correct. Painting wood is classic design. It's near impossible to pull off stained wood paneling in a typical home. You can change the carpet....do all the things people have suggested and it will still be dark. Paint it out. It will be beautiful AND classic. Paint is the only way to go. Study up on it. It's not a trend.

This is my first and last post; funny how some people continue to post their repeated opinion! My suggestions are to add recessed lighting, change carpeting to lighter color or -- if budget allows -- replace with white oak, and keep your paneling. Anybody can paint over wood, but it takes a keener eye to recognize what's beautiful -- and while not all paneling is (!), yours is. You can always paint it, of course, if you feel it's necessary after making the other changes. Just remember that trends come and go.

What was that all about knorling? I only saw one repeat poster. You know, I used to enjoy houzz but it's getting SO nasty. Try garden web decorating forum. Those people are down to earth, not snobby and always friendly. They are also like 99.99% of us who post on houzz....non-professionals who try to be helpful when someone puts a question "out there." Nobody over there pretends to be a professional designer. Everyone is respectful of others' opinions. Most of the discussions aren't as design-sophisticated, but they are infintiely more pleasant and enjoyable.

I love this room. I remember a showhouse that had a paneled room like this, and they used lined draperies hung very high on the walls, used a printed linen with an off-white background and small red/green floral design. Another look that is great with paneled walls is a crewel embroidered fabric with a light background. The floors were hardwood with a red oriental carpet and there were several nice framed prints with large off-white mats. I would not think of mirroring the bookcase backs as it seems out of character and too modern, but this is one place where a light paint would call attention to the objects on the shelves. This room has character - go with it.

Would love to hear what was decided on the room? Please share updates and pictures if you have them.
I had the same dilemma. I took the route of putting in hardwoods, a light and fluffy carpet along with light drapes over the windows. This lasted 4 years and now I am doing a remodel of the room. I removed the paneling, am painting the walls and the remaining wood stained bookshelves, and picked a stone veneer in place of the red brick fireplace. I'm 3 weeks in and have about 2 to go but am excited about the progress.

The entire design element of this room is missing. The area over the windows should not be. There are numerous architectural mistakes in this room, and so you would be preserving someone else's idea of a gentleman's room. I recommend you rip out all the panelling and start anew. If I thought for a second this was a first rate plan and that it had been executed in an historically correct manner, then I would agree with everyone who wants to keep the panelling. You obviously use this room for your family and are feeling the oppressive vibe of a room gone wrong, and is dark, to boot. Plan your family room for your family and insure you have the look you want and with the amount of light that will make you happy.

I like the room and would keep the paneling with brightly patterned carpet as in photo. I also like the furniture, drapes, game table and lighting in photo. Furniture arrangement & furniture are not quite right, when you buy your new furniture & flat screen TV, have them help you with comfortable furniture & a plan for your room.

We had this same problem in our room and our house was built in 70's. Take out paneling on upper half leave paneling at bottom. Paint the whole thing one color. Add in lighter trim color maybe even incorporating the trim color around the squares on the lower half and inside the squares the wall color. Hardwood floor in dark color would look nice. Canned lightening throughout. Please post your end result..we would like to see it!

I commented earlier and after reading all other posts and considering the suggestions given, I stand by my original ideas - you have an exceptional room, and painting it would make it common. A dark room cannot be lit with paint, it only becomes shadowy. Lighting is the answer, along with white or ivory drapery framing the window (hung very high) and light slipcover fabrics to reflect the light. You can begin with several lamps, one in each corner area of the room, and beside chairs and sofas, and picture lights over any canvas art. More can lights would be needed only if mobile lighting is found not to be adequate. Many times, half of the wall receptacles are wired to turn on the lamps plugged in to them,, with a wall switch--check to see if one of your wall switches does this. Framed art can have large light mats - great in a series, with dark frames. You can create so much ambience with pools of light. Consider a sofa in front of the window, with the tv mounted on the wall where the mirror is presently hung, a good console under it. Hardwood is the classic floor and looks good even when it is not closely matched to the wall wood tone. You will need at least two coordinating area rugs and two furniture groupings for a room of this size-persians are great, but so is sisal or seagrass, and affordable.A cowhide or zebra rug on top of sisal anchors seating so beautifully. A limestone or other light stone surround for the fireplace would be a great update. Paint the inside of those bookcases, accessorize them and love your room! You have a gem.

I feel your pain. I just inherited a den with wooden floors and wood paneled walls! I slapped some primer up there and re-painted. Your paneling with the lower sections built in looks a lot like my dining room. We painted the bottom chair rail and below off-white and the top taupe. You may want to leave behind some of the wooden touches (ie bookshelves and fireplace). We did! I wish I had a photo.... Good luck!

wow, what a thread to read thru!I'm wondering if the homeowner is even still continuing to follow it lol. My two cents..( and without knowing what is in the rest of your home, which is very important to keep in mind...consult with a designer on site) paint the paneling a soft gray, change out floors to hardwoods, in a darker stain with area rugs you love, and limestone replacing brick on FP.Some lovely light colored drapery panels. Absolutely elegant.I understand where you are going with the mirror in back of cabs, but I'm not so sure about that... bring in better lighting. Perhaps paint back of cabs a contrasting color.. something you will use in the room, maybe on rugs.
What a lovely space to work with. Good luck!

PAINT IT!!!!!!!! seriously.... just paint it. It isn't heresy... its paint. No big thing and you will faint from the resulting light

You are on houzz.com!! Under Photos in search box type painting paneling and take a look. Some of the pictures look as your paneling would if painted. Maybe you can then decided what you want to do.

Paint the bottom of wood work white to make it look like a chair rail effect and frame out the fire place with white paint also ......so the bottom half of the walls are white and by framing out around the fire place it will make it pop

I also agree with LOISHAPI, it looks like plywood veneer. Over the yrs I have painted many like yours and it is not hard. Wipe it down good with a deglosser (no sanding mess), tint oil primer close to color you decide on, then two coats of oil satin paint. Ben Moore has Satin Impervo which is very good. Oil because the drying time lets it level out without lines and it is harder, can wash off little finger prints without taking paint itself off.
The very First thing you do is decide on your colors and where they go. Can be a color not white/cream. You might want to pick out anything fabric first as paint can be made to whatever it is needed to be. A new sofa can float where you have it with a sofa table behind for lamp. Or place the new sofa on wall under mirror with tables on each end with lamps. Chairs table between with lamp infront of windows. Chair on either end of sofa maybe one with ottoman; put your feet up while watching tv or the children playing. No hanging light try a ceiling fan maybe with light (no spot light style). Drapery either end of window (hung high to ceiling) and blinds at windows to control light and privacy. Carpet gone large area rug on top of tile floor easy to keep or hardwood but not dark. TV over fireplace (picture doesn't show fireplace really well). Since really can't see it well, maybe remove mantel. Paint brick and if like to use it check into inserts w/remote. Do mirror backside of bookcases, possible paint shelves and sides an accent color. Might add glass doors to protect goodies from dust and little hands. Bright artwork on walls, artificial tree, sofa pillows, candles. Pay attention to details. By the way after 40yrs I retired as a designer. I understand myself what you are going through as we are downsizing to a townhouse as well as trying to get the main house done to put up for sale and at the same time redoing our lake house and NC beach house. I to am picking out paint, floor, lights, stair treads, cabinets, appliances and so on. Please, post pictures of your finished room or even as it is progressing. It is always nice to see how the suggestions from everyone have helped you. Best Wishes.

Dude, go hard or go home.

GO HARD: put some paint and moulding on the ceiling, and put some wood and layered rugs on the floor and get some good lighting. Sure, the ceiling is lower than most of the rich pepole's home you see on Houzz, but Frank Lloyd Wright managed to have dark rooms and low ceilings. Greens make that coloured wood sparkle, specially lighter green. Be bold: do it.

Or, go home and paint it beige. And die wondering,

Unless its plywood like Iosi said. If its plywood, put up some nice drywall.

I say paint the paneling white and add your grasscloth for a warmer look. That way you'll keep things updated and fresh. Once that's completed, I'd say go as dark as you'd like with the hardwood floor. Nothing looks more classically chic than an ebonized hardwood. I'd say skip the mirrored bookcases and maybe paint the backs a pop of color or wallcovering? Just an idea. Good luck with your project! :)

I'm not a designer...so please bear with me. This is just an opinion. I love that room! Wish it were mine. But the room has dark furniture, dark window coverings, dark carpeting, and inadequate lighting. So many options before you resort to painting that beautiful wood. Even artwork can brighten a room. Seems "paint it white" is the common answer on many decorating forums. Our new home has a lot of wood, and I love the coziness and warmth.

keep everything including the rug and drapes in a light palette. incorporate a mix of traditonal and cont style

put the couch by the window for more symmetry.

lighter colored drapes. take the rod to the ceiling height

mirror doesn't work

replace chandelier with a more transitional one in a larger scale. need more lamps

Looks like a great room to work with! While I am not a huge fan of panelling I would start with lighter drapes hung closer to ceiling, changing fireplace surround to something lighter, painting the insides of the bookcases in a light color, updating the lighting, and possibly getting lighter slipcovers or new furniture (depending on budget). As many previous posts indicate you might be amazed at how much impact this has - if you still want to paint panelling then at least you have taken the redo in manageable steps

The paneling in this room will looking stunning painted in a warm white. It will also make the room look fresh and inviting.