Dark Super Textured Paneling

8 years ago

My whole house is dark. The house was built is 70’s. My walls are very textured and I am apprehensive of painting them. I am needing to put down flooring but not a fan of very light flooring. I know dark flooring will only make my living room look smaller and darker. Any ideas?

Featured Answer

PRO

Home Interiors with Ease

8 years ago

I would pull the wood off the walls and do drywall...than you can paint it a nice neutral tone and go with the darker flooring you like...otherwise you can rent a paint sprayer and do a coat of white primer on wood walls and than paint.

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Comments (11)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
I agree that wall material is hideous and does nothing except make any decisions impossible. There were many things from the 70s that need to go away never to return.
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jbtanyderi
8 years ago
Art and more lamps (table and/or floor) will help.
Dawn Reid
8 years ago
The paneling needs to go. You really can't work around it.
Betsy Plaster
8 years ago
You could paint the paneling. We have done it in the past and it looks great. Be sure to do all the prep work. You can paint it any color.
PRO
Marble Alley Development LLC
8 years ago
I think you should keep it. You can change its character by adding lighter wood trim to the wall: baseboard, chair rail(s) and crown moulding. I am attaching an image from my wine cellar. Plus as mentioned previously, add art to the walls and above the mantel with better lighting. Good luck!
apple_pie_order
8 years ago
It's time to get what you really want. When you are about to make a major investment such as flooring, it is best to not to spend a lot of money just to go with another thing you dislike. This is the time to change the thing you dislike: the walls. Removing the panelling would be best, then you can have a clear smooth surface to paint. Or you can paint it. Then choose flooring you really love.

Here is another thread that shows how a room is transformed by painting the old panelling. Scroll down for the "after" photo added today.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/4944183/remodel-help-for-widow#21026216
PRO
Home Interiors with Ease
8 years ago
Is that paneling real wood or faux?
Mari-Kate Walker
Original Author
8 years ago
It is real wood paneling.
Beth H. :
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
all you people saying to paint it,,,can you not see it has the texture of tree bark?? This does not go with anything. You are all showing examples of smooth, wood paneling. That's fine. it can be painted. The stuff on her wall isn't smooth.

Mari-Kate, Remove it. It's horrible. sorry. You can try painting it white,,,but it's just going to look like white tree bark. Take it down or cover it with drywall.

if you want to leave it, paint it and your fireplace, and all the thin molding white.
RaiKai
8 years ago
I’d remove it and drywall. I am not anti-paneling in all situations, but that paneling is heavy, dark, and highly textured. Trying to paint it will likely leave you uttering more curse words than you can imagine, and then you will just end up with heavy, white, highly textured paneling.

I had a slightly less textured feature wall in a home I purchased many years ago: ripping it off and putting up new drywall was a wonderful change! You will have so many more options for flooring once that paneling is gone!