Paint it the same color as the wall.

Pull down the paneling and install dry wall or just skim coat new plaster if there's already dry wall back there. Paint it. I'd re-stain the mantle a darker color like cherry or walnut.

Hi Krbnmom, it would be sad to paint or take this wood paneling down, since it gives the room some architectural detail and I really like the grid pattern.

However, I would suggest staining it a darker chocolate brown color to match the legs of your chair on the lower right hand corner of the picture for a more contemporary look.

That looks great. I actually really like the grid pattern as well.

paint all walls-including fireplace wall the same color-(warm taupe?). White for fireplace and mantle--Enlarge mantle length-wise. Hearth needs to be floor level-can find inexpensive marble. Just a suggestion-wooden cabinet much too large for size of room.

That is one sweet fireplace wall. I don't think that is the problem. It's your gigantic scale furniture covering it up! Try a different furniture arrangement away from the wall. Ideally much smaller scaled furniture would be more appropriate for the space.

I'm torn on this one. I agree with my colleagues above. This wall is absolutely gorgeous- the lines of the paneling is great, just the color needs an update.But, I'm sure that, having lived with it for a while, you may be tired of it.

I also agree with bluewater7 that the scale and even style of furnishings in the room don't help the room from looking dark and small. The two tones of wood fight each other- the cabinet being red tinged and the paneling being yellow tinged.

I would deepen the wood stain as well on the far right and far left 3 panels going down the wall, the mantel and cross strips of wood. On the inner panels- directly to the left and right of the fireplace, I'd paint the center panels in a cream that exactly matches the fireplace tile. It will add interest and counter balance the darker wood on the sides.

I agree with Dytecture's idea. The paneling is really cool, but would look a lot better in a chocolate brown as he suggested. The only other addition that I would make personally is to change the white marble to perhaps a creme color. I also agree with bluewater 7's idea to scale down your furniture a bit. Good luck!

My other suggestion would be to actually keep the wood color and just replace the tile surround with a light travertine with glass strips similar to the color of the wood- making the stain appear fresh again!
Floor & Decor makes an inexpensive option which would look great if you have any tiling skills.
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-128535998013857_2196_37791793

Thanks for the suggestions...the furniture was brought with us when we moved here 10 years ago, from a place with a much larger great room. Def will scale down. Esp. love the glass tile idea, as I was thinking that myself! Thanks.

And I don't usually have gigantic piece of sofa against the wall. We were just VERY tired of our sectional and decided to mix it up for a while. The room has two large doorways and a gigantic picture window, so furniture placement is a nightmare.

If you are going to move soon, I wouldn't even replace the tile surround. I like Dytecture's suggestion of just staining the wood wall panel.

Keep it! Its a nice feature warm, don't paint will look kind of cheap. Do a restoration hardware grey wash if u must.

I'd paint the whole room including the wood in a soft off-white or gray. Benjamin Moore White Down or Revere Pewter are lovely. Move the large piece of furniture well away from the fireplace or to another room. It overwhelms the fireplace and makes it look undersized. The furniture is way too large for the room.

I'd declutter the mantel. There is too much on it for the small size, and it seems to be a mish-mash of odds and ends instead of a theme. I'd paint the mantel in a colour to complement/contrast with your wall colour, and place a large mirror over it in a black frame. It could rest on the mantel, or hang just a couple of inches above it.

A pair of smaller matching chairs in a jewel tone, (or black for a bit more edginess) on either side of the fireplace would make a cozy setting, and perhaps a couple of larger scaled framed black and white prints on either side of the fireplace would help. The wreath is dated.

Perhaps an area rug in front of the fireplace would draw the eye away from the carpeting, which is currently too bright for the dark room.

I love that wall! It's unique and may be the thing the sells the house to the next home owner. Let them decide to remove it. I would work on what you can take with you. I think the most cost effective was is to stain it a darker brown and downsize the furniture. It sounds like you've had it for a while and that could be the change you make that you can take away with you when you move. Your next space will always be able to fit the smaller scale furniture. That's where i would put my dough. Practical.

Think you should paint the paneling WHITE & add a large colorful oil painting (?Picasso-like) over the fireplace. Lose the huge wood (?tv) cabinet and replace with 55" flat screen on low (simple lines) credenza to hide DVD, etc. Also add a patterned rug (with or without --less $--wood flooring). TV, oil painting, rug can all go with you if there is a move.

I love the idea of staining that wall deep chocolate, but depending on your budget, paint may be the better option. It could be painted white, or in a deep chocolate or even black in a matte finish. I would remove the traditional mantel and instead create a new one that is more contemporary, framing the fireplace on the top and sides. It could be covered in more of the existing tile around the fireplace, or you can select a new tile or stone to replace what is there and cover the new mantel/surround.

This first link is to a fireplace that has a similar grid style paneling behind the fireplace. It gives you an idea of what your wall might look like painted. Unlike this one though, in your case I would have the stone area stand forward of the wall to create a mantel.


The shape of your new mantel/surround could be very much like the one in this photo, and it could be covered in tile. Much less money than stone slabs.

Sounds like you are really pressed for room with the window and doorways, I would really suggest you get rid of that huge piece of furniture on the right and a smaller scale, clean lined chair could replace the chair that's in there. If you really want that room to look bigger, I would suggest you paint everything the same color (someone mentioned gray - a warm grey would be nice). I would get rid of all the knick knacks on the mantel and put a large painting there to tie it all together.

PAINT THE WALL, MANTLE ENTIRE WALL WARM WHITE! It's classic and timeless, and will go with anything. Leave the stone surround, but get rid of the
raised hearth, it chops up the room too much.

I agree — I would paint out the paneling the same color as the wall.

... I would choose a soft grey/beige neutral (Benjamin Moore CC-80 Grey Mist is one of my favorites).

I would also put the cabinet flat against the wall and replace the chaise with a sofa and possibly add 2 small scale chairs facing the fireplace, if there is room.

The dark stain will just draw more attention to it and you may not like it. It is a lovely feature, but if you want to minimize it, paint it the same color as the walls with the exception of the mantle, or I think painting the whole wall a softer cream that matches the tile color around the fireplace, (I think that is tile...) would be nice and open it up a bit. Do move that large piece away from the wall so you can see the whole fireplace area. If that bright colored art piece and green vase could go somewhere else- too distracting. I would move it and simplify your accessories. A larger wreath would be better or just hang it a bit lower. Pull the chair into the room a bit.

I love the scale and detail of the paneling that's currently in place. As others have said, I would suggest painting it white or the color of your walls. If you stain it darker, it will make that wall look like a dark tunnel against your lighter walls. Plus, given the wood piece of furniture already there, a dark stain won't contrast well. You could paint the mantel and fireplace surround differently by painting it another color (grey, tan, etc.). Replacing the existing stone surround with a warmer color material would be a nice change. Perhaps using a smaller scale tile around the the actual fireplace opening as well. Good luck!

I found this photo with a wall similar to yours. It will give you an idea of what it will look like if you painted it the same color as your walls.

Bought tile from Floor and Decor as @Fashion House Interior Design suggested, but got an elliptical tile for the fireplace with pineapple onyx marble and carrara marble. Replaced the raised hearth with a flush to the floor slab of carrara. Left the wooden fireplace wall as it was, and painted the room BM Soft Chamois. Replaced the carpet, but still waiting for furniture to arrive. Thanks for all the ideas!

oops, pic was sideways!

This looks great. I am so happy to see what you did. The darker rug and the new tile really set the wood off. I like your arrangement on the mantle too.

Hope you keep the wood as is. Really love this wall. If you are going to sell it soon, as least give someone else the chance embrace it or change it.