How to Paint Wood Paneling in 6 Steps

Wood paneling is a common type of wall made of natural wood or other materials that mimic wood. Wood paneling consists of medium-dark or dark wood boards—sometimes thin or a couple of inches thick—placed side by side with the wood grain running perpendicular to the floor. The style was popularized as a simple and affordable wall option in American homes from the 1950s to the 1970s. Wood panel walls can be throughout a house, usually in entryways, living rooms, and sometimes bedrooms.

Follow these six steps to paint your wood paneling:

1. 1. Ready your workspace. Before you pick up the paint brush, clean your walls to remove any oil marks or stains. Take down all hardware, photographs, and paintings before spraying some all-purpose cleaner on the walls and wiping with a towel. Let your walls fully dry, and place drop cloths on the floor to catch any paint drips.
2. 2. Section off paint areas. Your wood paneling may sit between ceiling trims and floor baseboards. Using painter’s tape, section off areas you don’t want to paint to ensure a clean job.
3. 3. Begin priming. Add a primer to your now-clean-and-ready wood paneling. A paint roller will work on the wood itself, but you will need a brush to get inside the panel grooves. Let this coat dry thoroughly. You can expedite the drying process by opening windows or turning on fans.
4. 4. Prime again. If you need to fill in nail holes or eventually paint your walls white or a lighter color, you might want to add a second coat of primer. Solid wood can bleed through, and grooves and uneven surfaces can make it more difficult to prime fully in one go.
5. 5. Paint your desired color. Paint a coat moving section by section to give a smooth finish, spreading paint evenly as you go. From your priming, you’ll know which rollers or brushes work best on the panels and grooves so you can efficiently coat the walls.
6. 6. Rehang hardware. You may need a second, thin coat to cement your chosen color. Regardless, when you are all done painting and it has thoroughly dried, remove the painter’s tape, rehang all your photos and hardware, and enjoy your new wall.

Painting wood paneling is pretty straightforward, but bear these tips in mind to ensure an easy process:

1. 1. Sand or degloss as needed. If your wood panels have a shiny cover, you’ll need to wipe them with a deglosser or rub them with sandpaper. Glossy walls make paint adhesion more difficult.
2. 2. Fill nail holes. After your first coat of primer dries, fill in nail holes (made more visible by the white primer). Use a putty knife to fill the holes with spackle or wood filler. Once filled, use a damp rag to smooth over the surface. Wait for it to dry before painting another primer or coat of paint.
3. 3. Open windows. To dry more quickly and improve ventilation, open windows and turn on fans while painting. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint fumes can be dangerous, so you’ll want to keep air flowing to stay safe.

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