How can I lighten wood paneling without paint?

How To Lighten Wood Paneling Without Painting

2-part wood bleach.
Synthetic paint brush.
Wood spoon (to stir the bleach)
Coarse-grit sandpaper.
Fine-grit sandpaper.
Rags.
3 plastic containers (for example, a bucket or a bowl will work fine)
Plastic sheeting.

Also asked, how do you lighten dark wood paneling?

Introduce brightly colored furnishings, refresh dark-hued paneling and brighten the space with additional illumination to change the ambiance.

Do a Switcheroo. Apply light-colored paint over the wood paneling to cover up outdated walls.
Create New Focus.
Generate Sparkle.
Introduce White.

Secondly, should I paint my wood paneling? However, there are times when the warmth and richness of quality, distinctive wood paneling is entirely appropriate and exquisitely beautiful. So, the rules about painting the wood paneling in those situations are no good, and should not be heeded. That is unless you're just tired of it.

Moreover, how do you lighten wooden walls?

Mix water with vinegar at a 2 to 1 ratio. Pour into a clean spray bottle or use a clean bowl or bucket. Apply to the entire paneling surface, scrubbing gently with a soft-bristled brush to get down into the wood's pores.

What is the best color to paint wood paneling?

Shades of Elegance. Dark paneling in the living room can be depressing. If you'd love dove gray painted walls with sharp white trim, don't rip out paneled walls -- just treat them like regular walls and paint them. A coat of white primer will ensure that your top coat goes on easier and stays true to color.

34 Related Question Answers Found

Is wood paneling in style?

If you wanted an updated home, the first thing to go was the wood paneling on the walls. But now wood paneling is back. People are finding clever ways to use it in a variety of modern styles. With some sleek geometry, creative stylings and light colors, wood paneling fits well into the updated, modern space.

Is wood paneling outdated?

Slide 1: Outdated Dark Wood Paneling

Today, while many homeowners have phased out the dark and dreary feature in favor of neutral or brightly painted drywall, paneling remains in plenty of homes that haven't been remodeled in decades. If, however, the walls are covered by sheets of wood-look panels, pull them off now!

How do you decorate a living room with wood paneling?

How to Decorate Wood Paneling Without Painting It

Paint the trim. Yes, there is some painting involved, but NOT of the paneling – just the trim around the paneling.
Bring in solid colors on furniture.
Create multiple focal points.
Use eye-catching art.
Layer in texture and pattern.

How do you decorate a living room with brown paneling?

Let in Light. With dark paneling on the walls, your room can use all the natural light it can get.
Keep Flooring Light. Choosing flooring in a light color is another way to balance the dark paneling and create a striking contrast for the room.
Add Warm Colors.
Use Wall Hangings.

How do you paint wood paneling with grooves?

To fill the grooves and paint paneling:

Sand the paneling lightly to dull the gloss.
Wipe any sanding dust off with a damp cloth.
Fill the grooves in the paneling grooves with joint compound.
Allow the joint compound to dry.
Apply additional coats of joint compound, if needed.

What flooring looks good with wood paneling?

Installing polished-concrete floor tiles yourself can save you money. The glossy shine of this flooring goes best with flat or shine-free paneling, but if your walls are the high-gloss sort, incorporate texture with natural wood furniture, matte art and tweed upholstery.

How do you make wood paneling look like drywall?

How to Make a Wood Paneling Wall Look Like Drywall

Fill in all of the seams of the paneling with spackling compound using the putty knife.
Sand the spackling compound with fine grit sandpaper.
Pour the primer into the paint pan.
Repeat the priming process with high-quality interior latex paint to make the wall look like drywall.

What color curtains go with wood paneling?

If you're going for more of a dark and broody style, then you can stylishly pair wood paneling with dark coloured curtains. Navy, purple, and red all match wood nicely. It is best to draw on colours that are already present in the wood grain itself to help bring the room together in all aspects.

How do you refinish wood paneling?

Prepare the Area. To begin the project, you will need to prepare the area.
Sand the Paneling.
Vacuum up the Dust.
Putty and Sand the Panels.
Stain and Finish the Wood.
Polyurethane or Varnish Finishes.
Tung Oil.
The Best Option.

How do you lighten a dark cottage?

8 Home Decor Tricks to Brighten a Dark Room

Start with white. When trying to brighten a dark space, many people look to mirrors to reflect light around a room.
Light the walls.
Cool with blue.
Counteract with black.
Update lightbulbs.
Add area rugs.
Embrace blond woods.
Provide balance.

How do you brighten a dark wooden room?

To help brighten a dark room, go with light floors. Light stains also work well in high-traffic areas and are better at masking scratches. If you already have dark wood or stone, use an area rug to brighten things up.

How do you whitewash paneling with paint?

Whitewashing can be accomplished by mixing equal parts water and paint and applying them to your surface. For wood paneling or furniture, water-based paint works best and can be applied with a brush. For bricks, use a latex paint mixture applied with a spray bottle in order to see the best results.

How do you cover wood paneling?

Part 2 Painting Wood Panels

Prepare the area. Move all furniture well away from the paneling, and cover the floor with drop cloth.
Sand away the finish.
Apply primer.
Fill grooves with drywall joint compound (optional).
Fill in holes and dents.
Paint the panels.

How do you lighten wood?

DO neutralize wood between treatments.

To get your desired shade, you may go from chlorine to a peroxide-based two-part bleach (view example on Amazon). Before moving from one to another, soak a clean rag in a 50-50 white vinegar and water solution. Apply with clean rags, then wipe again with plain water.

Is there drywall behind wood paneling?

Like drywall, many types of wood paneling come in 4' x 8' panels. That means you should have seams with finishing nails along every third stud. You could try carefully popping out a few nails in the middle of a panel to see what's behind it. If you're careful enough, you can just tap the nails back in when you're done.

What is a wall liner?

Wall Liner, also sometimes referred to as Paper Wall Liner, Lining Paper and Wallliner is a thick paper that's is designed to cover flaws in walls. Wallpaper liners application is so simple and easy and is done in a similar way as regular wallpaper. A large amount of homes have old wood paneling as wallcovering.

Can you paint paneling without sanding?

So, yes you can paint paneling without sanding it first! Now you are ready for paint. Use a latex based primer paint with a stain blocker. That paneling has been there for decades and will definitely benefit.