You might check underneath the paneling. Some people added the paneling over drywall when it was inn style. Some people paint paneling with kills and then paint over it. one HGTV show even filled in the cracks with wall compound or sparkling to get rid of the lines.

Paint it a cram colour. Is the furniture staying? I think not -- so put a grasscloth rug on the floor to take away the green ... what colour is your furniture?

The most economical way to update wood paneling is to paint over them for a light and airy feeling basement.

If you are open to painting the paneling, I would strongly recommend it. We recently painted our paneled rooms and wonder why we didn't do it years ago. The only caution if you do paint, is get someone to advise you about a good primer. We found out that some of the kinds of paneling needs to have a special primer. If you would like to see before and after pics, I can send them.

Awesome ideas. The furniture "DEFINITELY" goes. lol. Once we make some updates we will purchase new furniture. I had no idea that we could get rid of the lines on the wood panels as well. I will also check out to see if there is drywall behind the panels.

@Banff1976 can you possibly show me your before and after pictures

Actually, if the sofas are yours, I would either keep them and recover the cushions or make sure you sell for what they are worth. They may have some real value since mid-century is so popular right now. I would definitely paint all the wood, change the lighting and the floors.

Filling in paneling grooves and painting is a quick inexpensive fix. Down the road, I would check out whats behind all of the paneling and have it removed, especially in a basement. You never know what boo-boos were covered up back then. Lack of insulation could be an issue, as well as moisture. The ceiling should also be taken down. Have a pro check to make sure it's not hot with asbestos before disturbing it.

I think the mid century sofas are fabulous, especially since you have a pair. I would wait till the paneling is dealt with before getting rid of them.

once you've dealt with the paneling (painting/filling) it would make a hell of a difference if you drywalled the ceiling, adding some recessed lights. This would be a relatively inexpensive and simple job, if the tiles are asbestos or a pain to remove, you could easily mark where the joists are, and just screw the drywall over the top of it, taking out whole tiles where the lights go and mudding the seams, no problem doing that. You could probably do it yourself if you have basic DIY skills. Another idea with the paneling, is, you could remove some of the fussy mouldings and trims around the edges and caulk the gaps, it would look like regular wide beadboard then. Add some flooring (dark laminate) and white louvered blinds too.

Use Carrington Beige by Benjamin Moore. Try the treatment of spackling the paneling. If budget can tolerate I'd cover the ceiling with white 24 x 24 tile and add a beautiful light. The sofas are great, I'd paint or darken the stain on the the built in put a mirror or TV in the center and accessorize the built in.

What's the actual budget?

Budget fixes; paint (keep a feature wall of the paneling), drapes, replace ceiling fixture, is that a drop ceiling? If so, take a peak to see if it's feasible to remove, remove mismatched furnishings, declutter bar, replace carpet with carpet tiles if the flooring isn't in good shape

Forget redoing the ceiling and listen to banff 1976 We painted our den when we moved into an older home 40 yrs ago and the grooves in the paneling look great we put primer then painted We have built in shelves that we painted what a difference getting rid of all the little *stuff on the shelves and doing less but bigger items will update too. (We brushed the paint into the grooves then roller painted) you can recover those couches with material too Good luck I know it will be great when you are done PS throw away the curtains go with some blinds or pleated shades to comlete your update

Didn't read all the posts above, but if you're buying all the kitchy furnishings, just go for "the look" and paint it a hot 50's color from the sofa upholstery. You can rent it out for retro parties!

Paint the paneling, add a modern or retro light fixture, paint out the built in shelving with semi gloss white and add some expresso baskets, modern aqua glass vases, white coral, a nice off white natural rug perhaps a turquoise pattern in it, if you have to keep the furniture recover it in a beige, punch it up with coral color pillows. Add either white 2 inch blinds or plantation blinds or roll up bamboo type blinds to give the room a funky updated retro beach design. Turquoise or aqua with coral color and white makes a great color pallet for a room.

You should KEEP that furniture and I wouldn’t recover it either (if it is in good shape). Those colors are in and furniture is so it the style. Just paint the paneling to make it look brighter ( I have done this before and the texture of the paneling looks great). I am redoing my den in those same colors and I am in the process of painting the walls a pale yellow. I think it looks nice with the green and turquoise. De-clutter a bit, ad some new throw pillows, lighting and you will be good to go! If you find the furniture is just not your style after you paint and de-clutter be sure to sell it. You need to do a bit of research because that it a hot style so you could possibly pay for your redo!

I like the whole mid-century look - go with it! Get ri of the curtains and the faux-Tiffany lamp and get some cool 50s stuff.

Love the paneling, sofas- even the TV trays! Owners did a great staging job. Cool retro- I'd ask them to leave all.

I have mixed feelings about painting that wide knotty pine.....you can't get beautiful wood like that any more, it's all gone. But if you must paint, I agree with banff1976. Her rooms look amazing. I especially like that she retained the natural wood color on the windows and I love the grooved texture of the walls...like beadboard. To me this is much more interesting than plain smooth walls. As for the furniture, yes, I think it is worth something. But if it isn't something you love...sell it.

Look at the beautiful warmth in this room

You have the really nice, varnished old stuff with that great patina. If you lighten your furnishings, you could get this look. Although I love the look of painted panelling, think long and hard before you do it.



Is that a turquoise VAT floor? VERY retro and very cool.

Also, here is a discussion about using a gray stain to neutralize the orange.
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/design-dilemma-i-need-lake-house-decor-ideas-stsetivw-vs~186823

Kathryn Peltier Design - great comments and illustrations!!

Definitely paint will bring this dark basement up-to-date. I love wood but not in massive amounts such as this room. Unless your home/basement should be preserved for some reason, paint, paint, paint!

It looks great just the way it is. It's a time capsule. Don't touch a thing.

My take is different. Here is the house I'm trying to sell now, tv room;

The colors are a little deeper than this shows. I sponged the pink onto the dark brown paneling (which also covers another wall floor to ceiling) so that some texture would show through, and I pressed lightly so as to avoid the black spaces between boards. No primer.

Here is the 1967 hi-ranch I just got an accepted offer on, MLS shots of upstairs are down:

The reddish diagonal paneling I have to keep, but it fights with the floors, so I am thinking maybe to paint it. Not the pink but the dark green? I want to re-create the room I love here! Downstairs paneling, there's so much of it, not sure what I'll do. I may have to take the walls apart just to look for insulation. Fun!

2013 post.

Wonder what she did?

It is too bad that so few people come back with an after photo.

Wow, what a cool room. You don't find untouched mid-century stuff like this very often! Beautiful.