How to Cover Wood Paneling: 4 Simple Methods
Bring your wood-paneled walls into the modern age with these techniques
Wood paneling was once one of the hottest design trends around, but these days, it may feel dated or out of place. Fortunately, if you’re looking to update your decor but don’t want the hassle of removing paneling from your walls, you can cover your wood paneling for a fresh new look. Options for covering wood paneling include spackle and paint, shellac-based primer and paint, caulk and wallpaper, and wall liner.
What Is Wood Paneling?
Wood paneling is made up of sheets or panels of solid wood, engineered wood, wood veneer, or imitation wood. These sheets or panels are then installed on walls to give the look of wood even on drywall or plaster walls. Wood paneling was a popular design trend from the 1950s to the 1970s, but has been in use in various forms since even before colonial times.
Cost to Cover Wood Paneling
The cost to cover wood paneling depends on what method you use to cover it. If you choose to paint over the paneling, hiring a painting professional costs an average of $1,100 for labor and materials for one room. If you choose to DIY, the cost is around $150 for materials.
The average cost of installing wallpaper for one room is $560, depending on the height of your ceilings, room size, and wallpaper selection.
How to Cover Wood Paneling
If you’ve grown tired of your wood paneling and are ready for a new look without the hassle of removing the paneling, you have options for covering it up to match your design style and your home’s decor.
1. Spackle and Paint
This four-step process takes a bit longer than some of the options on this list, but painting wall paneling produces the most consistent results.
The Tools You’ll Need
Drop cloth
Painter’s tape
Paintbrush
Roller brush
Spackle
Putty knife
Sandpaper
Acrylic paint
Clean the Panels
Wipe down the panels to remove dust and debris before doing anything else. This will ensure a smooth, uniform finish. Let dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Cover the Grooves With Spackle
Use the putty knife to apply evenly spackle over the grooves. Take this opportunity to also cover up any scratches or holes from wear and tear. Let the spackle dry completely before sanding. For a bit more texture, coat the walls in a layer of plaster in between this step and the next to create a fabulous faux finish.
Sand It Down
The amount of sanding that you do depends entirely on your preference. The smoother you want the finish, the more you’ll need to sand. If you’re trying to achieve a textured, gritty appearance, you may not even need to sand at all.
Primer and Paint
Use a vacuum to suck up any remaining dust from sanding. Use a roller brush to apply primer all over. Let dry, then apply the paint color of your choice.
2. Shellac-Based Primer and Paint
Using a shellac-based primer to cover wood paneling eliminates the need for any spackling or sanding. Though a bit more expensive than traditional primers, you get what you pay for because it does a better job of hiding the grooves and dries in less than an hour.
Clean the Walls
If your walls have come in contact with any kind of dirt and grime, then your first step should be to wash your walls. Use a mixture of dish soap and water or a heavy-duty cleaner specifically for removing grime, smoke, or other types of deposits.
Apply a Shellac-Based Primer
Once the walls are clean, apply the primer with up and down strokes and let it dry for at least an hour. Ensure it’s completely dry before painting. Shellac-based primer will speed up your project because you won’t need as many coats of paint to cover the faux wood.
3. Caulk and Wallpaper
If you’d rather avoid doing any extra painting, wallpaper is another great alternative for covering up wood paneling.
Fill the Grooves with Caulk
The catch is that wallpaper on its own is not thick enough to fully conceal the grooves underneath. Using caulk to fill the grooves is a quick fix for this problem. A putty knife will help you easily apply caulk to the numerous grooves.
Sand It Down
When the caulk has dried, sand it down to add enough texture for the wallpaper to adhere to.
Hang the Wallpaper
Once you’ve sanded, hang the wallpaper as you normally would in your home, either DIY or by hiring a local wallpaper pro to speed up the project.
4. Wall Liner
Wall liner is a thicker, more adhesive alternative to wallpaper that will cover the grooves in your paneling, so you can skip the caulk entirely.
Install Wall Liner
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and adhere the liner to the wall. Think of it as applying a smooth canvas that will let you start fresh with the decorating.
Apply Paint or Wallpaper
Once the liner is in place, add a coat of paint for color or a layer of thin, decorative wallpaper. There are plenty of great styles and textures to choose from.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Cover Wood Paneling
You can save a substantial amount of money by choosing the DIY route for any of the methods mentioned above. Instead of paying for the labor costs of a professional to either paint or hang wallpaper, you would only have to cover the cost of your materials.
However, depending on the size of your room, the ceiling height, and how much prep work is involved, hiring a professional can save you an enormous amount of time and deliver quality results. A local interior painter can give your wood paneling a fresh look with a professional finish.
Yes, you can paint over wood paneling, but it will take a bit of preparation before applying the final coats of paint. Start by making sure the walls are completely clean, either with a heavy-duty cleaner or soap and water. Once dry, apply a shellac-based primer, which is the only type of primer that adheres to wood paneling. Let it dry before applying one or two coats of paint.
Before painting, prepping the walls is key, which involves cleaning so you remove any dirt and debris, then applying a shellac-based primer. Once you’re ready to paint your wood paneling, a quality latex paint is the most recommended because of its durability compared to other types of paints.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper isn’t the best choice to cover wood paneling. Because paneling has a textured, uneven surface with grooves and peel-and-stick wallpaper has weaker adhesive than traditional wallpaper, you’d need to do a significant amount of prep work to get the wallpaper to lay flat and adhere properly. Peel-and-stick wallpaper works best on painted or primed drywall without a textured finish.
