DIY- How to hide old paneling?

Cathy Rabe Bass
by Cathy Rabe Bass

We want to cover up old paneling ? Is it possible to texturize over it?

It cannot be removed. Filling in all lines & gouges would take years. Sanding isnt possible for health reasons.

My mother wants the bottom paneling showing, with a chair rail covering the transition to color.



Maybe this ?

  12 answers
  • Sasha Sasha on Sep 09, 2018

    My Mom had pine paneling in her kitchen and den. She had it painted and it looks great. The grooves took the paint well and just adds dimension and interest. She had it painted a light grey and is very happy with it. I would certainly give it a try. Good luck, Sasha

  • Lorraine Lorraine on Sep 09, 2018

    Yes you can! If it’s not too deep between panals. But if it is you need a liner. Also painting would look great.

  • DesertRose DesertRose on Sep 09, 2018

    We had paneling in every room in an older house we once bought. We used calking to fill in the cracks then painted it with aroma-free Kilz primer, then painted we wanted in that room. It covered it very nicely and you could not tell it had been paneling!

  • Ginny Ginny on Sep 09, 2018

    Have had my TV rm. painted twice in last 15 years. Paneling is plastic looking 1960s finish, and painters used a good primer and top coat in antique white and painted trim white. Looks good. I don't smoke anymore so walls stay cleaner.

    Just had Armstrong oak finish vinyl sheet goods laid over marine plywood floor and had old rug removed. Purchased a 6' round shag rug (washable) and voila, a new room.

  • Joan Joan on Sep 09, 2018

    I painted my paneling in my 1949's rec room in white. Just wash it down with Dawn, put a primer on, and then add as many coats of paint as you need to cover. No need to fill in the grooves/lines; just use a tiny paintbrush to paint them. Mine looks fresh and modern. I absolutely recommend painting your paneling. You won't be sorry.

  • I have painted, textured over, and used the texture wallpaper in different rooms. I wouldn’t suggest texturing over, it didn’t last as well as the other two. The best finish, and you couldn’t tell there was even paneling unde, was with the textur wallpaper.

  • Virginia Jones Virginia Jones on Sep 09, 2018

    First, put on a coat of Kilz then paint. Lots of paints come already with Kilz so you can skip that step. We did this to a den and it was beautiful. The groves give a really nice effect.

  • Patricia Mcgee Patricia Mcgee on Sep 09, 2018

    I have used a wallpaper type product called "wallover" directly on paneling to hide lines and then just wallpaper

    BUT EVEN BETTER textured white wallpaper which is meant to be painted and comes in many gorgeous patterns. I have used this product over paneling and damaged walls. RESULTS? ALWAYS GORGEOUS! For best choices online search

    HAVE FUN!!



  • Carol Jackson Carol Jackson on Sep 09, 2018

    Check out the paintable wall paper. Used it to cover pink trellis wall paper that wouldn't die. I picked a pattern that looked like textured plaster- (good because I have no plastering knowledge) and was amazed with results. Plus wall paper super simple to put up.

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Sep 28, 2018

    My entire family room is paneled. I painted one wall a grey/blue color. The indents add dimension. With another wall, I bought really cheap wallpaper and ran it horizontal. I put my preferred paper over top of that. I used a chair rail and left the bottom 2.5', just paneling. It's been that way for over 20 years and I still love it.

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Sep 28, 2018

    I have that same issue in my house. I just painted it, but would cover it with a thin sheetrock (wallboard)if I had to do it over. Hand just like regular sheetrock (Wallboard). My son recently bought a house with the family room done in paneling He is going to wallboard over it. Use trim at the ceiling.