Personally, I love the look of painted panelling. But sometimes it's overwhelming when it's all over. You could prep and paint them just like a wall. Or, remove it all together!

Maria B, are the paneled walls in a room or in an entire house? Could you post a photo of a room they are in? What is the ceiling like and the flooring?

You have options!

If you're lucky, the paneling is in great shape and you can paint it and give it new life which is likely your most affordable option. There is also a good chance the paneling is hiding drywall. In such case, if you really hate the paneling, you can remove it and have the drywall behind it textured to match other walls in your home. Another possibility is to remove it and do a more updated wall treatment like reclaimed wood or wainscoting. A combination of these solutions can also work. Determining what is best for your space has a lot to do with personal preference. It's not necessarily a bad thing to keep paneling, you may just want to give it an update!

Best of luck with your project!

It’s only in the living room. But I really don’t like the look of it. It’s very old & scuffed all over the place. The ceiling is drywall. & the floors are carpet right now but we’re tearing it out soon. The whole room is getting a make over. The walls are first on the list of things my husband wants to get done. He told me about people using drywall compound on them but I kind of just want to take them down & replace with real drywall. Idk though.

Sadly, there’s no drywall behind them. Just what looks to be plywood?

If they are in bad shape and you don't like them, then rip it out and drywall. I have wood paneling, it is getting ripped out and drywalled this summer. I would not mess around with compound.

The best is to rip them out and go with new drywall, I have had lick with using drywall tape and mud to hide all the grooves and fill the scratches but if you have never done drywall go wit new drywll installed and mudded by a pro it really is tedious work for DIYer

I had paneling in a very small hallway, and filled the joints/nicks with compound, sanded, and painted. It came out great, and yrs later still looked good. However, It was a LOT of work. I wouldn't want to try it in a whole room! Taking it down and adding new drywall sounds like the best option.

Replacing it with drywall it is. Thanks everyone!

My aunt used a thick wallpaper liner and wallpapered over the paneling.

If you have the budget to rip it all down and drywall, do that. That will also give you a chance to add sound or heat insulation.

a better pic?