I’d rip it out. Painting over it is a cheap n easy fix but since ur going to all the trouble of freshing up the other rooms, may as well do it right for this one. The painted paneling thing really just looks cheap IMO. Good luck. :)

This appears to be actually wood not a 4x8 plywood product. Because of that I would keep it.

If it were the cheap 4x8 sheets, I would say rip it out. However, yours appears to be quality wood, and it looks nice painted, so I would just leave it and repaint. It is a lot of work to replace with sheetrock. All the trim has to be removed, and some will most likely break in the process and have to be replaced. It will compliment the more rustic look you are going for. When you repaint, since you think the sage looks dull, look for a clearer color that doesnt have the muddy look the paint that is on there now has.

I would keep it. I'm not too sure why boring drywall is better than a nice wood textured wall.

I can't tell by the picture, but maybe beefing up the window trim would also help

I'm in the "keep it" camp but only if it's like others have said--solid wood. If it's that cheap luan crap that's loose on the wall, tear it out.

gargamel, yes, I am getting all new art, furniture, paint and window treatments. the trim around the window will remain as it fits with remainder and style of house. thanks for your suggestions.

What is your style? Someone mentioned rustic maybe because of the exposed beams? That would really help in color. Did you already have art in mind?

My home is redwood tongue and groove built in 1956 with vaulted ceilings and black beams. Its costly to drywall and the alternative was to paint it with Behr Coconut Twist from Home Depot in eggshell finish. I describe the color as the inside of a banana. The color is a light yellow tint when its dim and looks like an off white in light. Trim is in bright white semigloss. We like this neutral color as it brightens the room while giving it warmth. You can decorate with many styles in mind.

Bananas, my style is a mix of rustic and modern. I haven't even thought of art yet but I probably will do a mix of black and white gallery art in one room, modern in another and maybe something 3d in another.

If you don't need to do insulation, you could just drywall over the paneling instead of ripping it out. That will save some labor and whatever costs you would incur to dispose of the paneling.

As someone who previously had painted over 1970s paneling in her family room, I'd vote to remove it. It's not terrible, but I don't think it's a positive attribute in the room. If you have the budget to replace with drywall, I think the room will look better. I like that you're keeping the beams. I think they do add character in a good way.

I suspect that this is thin 4 x 8 sheets of paneling. The rebates between the 'boards' don't look deep enough for it to be solid wood. That and there is no cracked paint lines that would indicate it being solid boards. If this was solid individual boards, the wall would have more depth and interest.

Easiest way to determine is to remove an outlet or switch cover to get a peek. If it is paneling, there is a good chance that there is already drywall behind the paneling.

If it is 4 x 8 panels, AFAIC, there is no dilemma. I would rip it out in a heartbeat. Looking at the pictures (as opposed to being able to see it in real life), it's not adding any positive character. Does look dated and cheap.

thank you all for the feedback. I appreciate it and it was helpful. I am leaning towards removing it. I will keep you updated and will show before and after pictures. I am getting it done end of month. keep you updated.

I would update the room by removing the paneling and drywalling it.

Our ranch house was built in the '70s also, and we had this same style of paneling in our family room. It had already been painted when we moved in, and we finally removed it last year. SUCH an improvement! Our intention was to drywall then paint, but once we removed the paneling, the walls underneath were already drywalled and in perfect condition, so we only had to paint. Maybe you'll get lucky too!

I would back off a test panel to see wt is under it. My guess is that it has at of drywall already under there, and it might already be taped. It depends of the local building codes. Often a non-flammable base of drywall was required, and taping rouge taping may have been done too. Even if you are so lucky, the woodwork will have to be adjusted to the new ,lesser thickness of the wall.

Years ago I pulled off such paneling in my house and was delighted to find the wall had been dry walled and completely finish taped. They had not used glue, so the painting of the wall was very little effort.

David this room happens to be an addition done in the 70's, my house built 1940. I found out the owner of the house did the addition himself so not sure what is behind the walls. I took a sneak behind the panelling and it's hard to tell. the wall is black so I have no idea what it is.

the panelling is the cheap type of thin panelling not the real wood. doesn't there have to be drywall behind it?

here is a picture? any idea what this black wall is?

I would keep it! It works very well with the overhead beams!

I'd get rid of it, it's not particularly attractive.

Whatever you decide with the paneling, when you hang your new art...HANG IT LOWER. Center of art at eye level (which varies depending if you're standing or sitting down) and 5 - 8" above any furniture that's beneath it.

Another option might be to do your own horizontal shiplap over the top of the paneling. I'm doing that now in my kitchen to cover the backsplash and several walls that are damaged beyond repair. You could do a natural wood to tie it with the beams. I think it would be rustic and serve as a great accent wall.

The original owner may have painted the wall black first so that any gaps in the paneling would be less obvious. It at least means there is some kind of wall back there.

Yes, what David said about black paint was a fairly common trick when installing that type of paneling.

I have decided to remove the panelling. it's going down next week. will give you before and after pictures when it's done.

thank you all for your input. it's was helpful.

I started to take off my panelling and there is drywall behind the panelling. Yeah. Just saved myself $1300. Thank you all for the feedback.

So happy for you! We had lower paneling in our kitchen which we took down. It was nailed and glued in some areas. 1 wall had drywall behind it the others were plaster. It was a job repairing the plaster and scraping off the glued areas. Then we had to have everything retextured but were so happy with the results!

Oh that is great !

thanks. the only thing I we are not sure to handle is near the trim. we are box cutting the wall to the closest groove. is there a way to take it off without removing the trim?

we did it. good thing because we found mold on the wall from on old leak so we are going to remove and sheet rock. here it is. will keep you updated once it's done

Good choice and so nice to have found the problem too.

If your going to do something, do it right the first time. I bet your glad you took it down instead of doing the cheap way out and painting it. Most of that fiberboard paneling was put up in the first place in the 70s as a cheap easy wall, or to cover up a wall that should of been fixed in the first place.

so glad we took it down. This was an addition built in 1978, so panelling was in style. this was on the wall left by the owners...kinda cool

Yes, you will have to remove the trim, if the paneling is under the trim. Be very careful removing it,, so you dont break it, and do it little by little, putting the trim back in place as you go. I am glad you found sheetrock. I wasnt that lucky at our last house. Paneling was on the studs, and wasnt even a wood type, had paper type wood look on it, in living room. It was horrible. In this house, though, I did luck out in the living room. No paneling, but, someone had put a fake fireplace in there that took up 7 ft of wall space. It was all stone and had electric logs. At the end of it, they put a 10 ft long built in. When I tore all that out, (which wasnt all that easy), I was thrilled to find that all I had to do was fill in a few nail holes, sand, and primer and repaint. Walls and ceiling were both painted previously. I now have room for furniture too. LOL

Much, much better. Yes, it took more time and work, but it was done the right way.

Wow, such an improvement! Looks so clean and fresh. Nice work!!

Thanks for coming back to update!

thank you. Next week is the floors. I am still contemplating painting the fireplace but will live with for awhile before I make decision

that's shoreline BM in family room. here is my dining room which is Coventry gray and living room shoreline. interesting how shoreline looks different in family room vs living. forgive the mess everything in middle of room and still cleaning dust

Looks great! By the way, I love that Lynn and Russ signed the wall prior to paneling over it—and on Valentine’s Day, no less! I wonder if they’re still together...

:)

I have no idea if they are together but I tracked Russ down on Facebook and sent it to him. haven't heard a response. I believe he was in high school at the time.

How funny that you were able to track him down, 40 years later! I guess you must've known the last name of the previous owners, and he was their son? Too funny!

yeah. I looked up Russ and the owners last name and I found him.

Looks terrific! The hardwork was so worth the end result.

4 x 8 sheet paneling was so on trend in the 1960's and 1970's. I've seen many a beautiful old home just decimated of charm as people ripped out what was considered "dated" moldings and installed paneling with clamshell molding. UGH! Now we say, what were they thinking? I wonder if Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank flooring is the 4 x 8 sheet paneling our time.

missenigma, I don't think plank flooring will go out. but I think shiplap will end up being the panelling of the 70's. I could be wrong but that's what I am thinking. my next dilemma is matte or satin finish on floors.

@gailtmiller67 I think you're right. A much better prediction.

It looks great. Nice job!

It looks very nice. A lot more updated. Nice job.

excited to share color of new floor weathered oak without the finish. getting 4 coats of satin bona HD tomorrow and Thursday. coming along.

had to pick that Color so it blends with my kitchen floor