How to Paint Wall Paneling in 10 Steps

Before rolling on the paint, note the paneling’s condition so you can buy the right supplies and plan your project. Your attention to the prep work matters—washing and prepping the walls are critical for the perfect finish.

If the paneling is heavily soiled or stained, washing the walls is an important step. Most cleaning jobs only require grease-fighting dish soap, but getting rid of cigarette smells might require a TSP (trisodium phosphate) cleaner.

Determine if your paneling is solid wood or has a vinyl finish that looks like wood. You can check by sanding a hidden piece of paneling and see if the vinyl falls away. If it does, you’ll have to skip the sanding and look for a high-performance primer.

Note how many holes, cracks, or damaged areas you’ll need to fix so you’ll know which products to buy, like caulk and wood filler. This also helps you plan how much drying time to schedule between repairs and painting. You’ll also decide whether to fill the grooves that wood paneling often has. You might prefer a flat finish or decide to keep the lines visible because they add a stylish dimension similar to beadboard paneling.

You’ll either choose an oil-based primer or stain-blocking latex primer. Generally, latex products work for most wood panel painting projects and are easier to apply and clean up. However, some paneling (especially sheets with lots of wood knots) requires an oil-based primer to keep stains from seeping through. Talk with a paint pro at a home improvement store if you’re unsure of which primer to use.

It's easiest to paint a room without furniture, so remove as much furniture as possible. After, unscrew the outlet and light switch covers and store them in plastic bags, or consider adding new ones to help freshen up your room’s overall look.

Protect the floor from the soapy water and paint products with a plastic sheet or painter’s drop cloth. Then, wash the paneling with dish soap or TSP. You might need a ladder to reach the highest points. Make sure to let the paneling dry before moving on.

Take the time to correct the paneling’s blemishes with paintable caulk and wood filler for the smoothest finish. Fill in gaps, cracks, seams, and grooves (if you choose to do so), but let everything dry before sanding, priming, and painting.

Sand away extra texture from the wood filler and caulk with 150-grit sandpaper or sanding blocks so the primer and paint go on evenly. If your paneling needs light sanding for the primer and paint to adhere, now is the time. Later, use a damp cloth to remove excess dust from the paneling. Don't forget to vacuum the remaining dust before applying primer and paint.

Decide whether or not to prime and paint the trim (molding, doors, or ceiling) in addition to the wood paneling. If you only want the paneling covered, apply painter’s tape to protect the existing trim colors. 

Note: If you plan to add another color to your trim, prime everything at once, and then add the painter’s tape to the trim after it's dried so you can paint straight lines with the new color.

Start by working from the ceiling down and priming the grooves with brush strokes. Then, use the paint roller to cover the rest. After the primer is completely dry, you may need another coat to hide stains. Let the second coat dry before adding the color.

To paint like a pro, follow the same steps as priming the paneling, but be careful not to let the paint in the grooves dry before you can smooth it over with the paint roller. The paint roller pulls double duty and erases brush marks. Plan for a second coat of paint to get a professional look.

If you need a big update and want to paint the room’s trim, ceiling, or windows, wait for the paint on the paneling to dry, add painter's tape to protect the new color, and then tackle the last bit of the project.