Painting wood walls
by
Teri Hines
+9
I am thinking about painting my living room walls that are currently wood. It is a log cabin that has been remodeled except for the living room. It is very dark in the room. Any suggestions on how and if I should do it since there will be no turning back once its done?
Pictures of the 2 walls
11 answers
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Instead of painting I would white wall them.
Janet Pizaro
on Oct 24, 2016
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I would use a good quality paint like Old Village.....I used that on my cupboards 4 yrs. ago and they look like I just painted them yesterday. Fantastic paint....doesn't chip!!
Laurie O'Neil Short
on Oct 24, 2016
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White wash the wood to lighten it but still have the woodgrain show.
William
on Oct 24, 2016
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I agree with the ideal white washing the walls. You'll have a brightened room with a classic wood grain cabin feel. http://www.wideplankflooring.com/blog/detail/... Yes, this is for floors but it shows you what the different techniques would look like.
Marra
on Oct 24, 2016
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If you don't want the wood-grain to show, paint first with Kilz, then your color paint. I have covered 1970's "wood" paneling, fieldstone, used brick, "barn siding" paneling, and an oil-stained walnut Danish Modern china cabinet. The only one that has chipped is the oil-stained, and that may be just because it gets chairs pushed into it. That said, the white-wash is apparently a trendy look, and if it works, less work. Also if you hate it, you can always Kilz over it, but you can't go back from Kilz.
Crystal Spin
on Oct 25, 2016
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Another vote for white-wahing.
Jcraw
on Oct 26, 2016
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Do I need to sand it first?
Teri Hines
on Oct 26, 2016
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Yes. A light sanding will remove dirt and any varnish, which would prevent the paint from taking hold. Then wipe down the walls to make sure you have a clean surface. There are dozens of sites offering advice if you google "whitewashing walls". These include advice on making your own whitewash.
Jcraw
on Oct 27, 2016
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Go for it!! The guest bedroom in my parent's house had this one awful wood paneled wall, and after 20+ years of it being "my room" when I visited, I asked if I could paint the entire room. Now all four walls are the same color (something kinda Navajo white-ish to match the curtains and stuff), and don't tell anyone, but I didn't even wash the walls, not even the paneled one first and it still looks great. You can't even really see that there's paneling on that one wall. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Mary Kay White
on Oct 27, 2016
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If it is something like tongue and grooved boards not just cheap paneling. You may want to find out what species of wood it is first, it may be Cedar, which needs primed, then painted in acrylic paint. I would sand it down and stain it with a light honey oil satin stain. That way you keep the beauty of the wood, and lighten up the room, and it keeps with the style of the cabin. I know it's more work, but that is what I would do. If it is wood paneling go ahead and paint it.
Mike Kilbourn
on Oct 30, 2016
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Here is one consideration: the walls are probably dirty. That accumulates over the years, you don't really notice it on wood. I would scrub them first. Use a scrubby sponge, one of the orange oil based cleaners and get to work. You will need to rinse it when done. Then, you will actually see the color of the walls. At that point, you can use liquid sandpaper or give it a light sanding with a palm sander. You are not trying to remove the finish, you just want the paint to adhere. I really like the look of the whitewashing of wood. You still see wood grain but it tones down the color and allows it to be more neutral. Be careful to check that it is not the cheap, fake "wood" paneling of the 60's. If it is, you need an entirely different approach. Wetting that stuff will make it fall apart, it is nothing more than glorified cardboard.
Linda Wilson
on Nov 02, 2016
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