How To Paint Over Dark Paneling

It may be time for your home to step into some light — literally. Brightening up a dark room or hallway is a great way to enhance the look and feel of your home, as well as save money on utility bills.

As you consider painting a dark room, remember that the quickest way to get light into a space is by using brighter colors in the area. This is because white reflects light, while darker colors absorb it.

It may be time to “green up” your gloomy family room with a fresh coat of light-colored paint. The lighter color will help limit the need for artificial light and improve the distribution of natural light. But what if your family room is one of those with the old dark wood paneling? How do you lighten that?

Your first impulse might be to remove the paneling, but that will disturb the trim around windows and doors as well as the flooring. With the paneling removed, you may also find damaged or unfinished drywall – another project to keep you busy.

You probably want a new coat of paint for your living room, but you’re concerned that painting over wood paneling will be tricky. And you’d be right — it is tricky to paint wood paneling without getting paint on the trim or other surfaces around the room. However, by choosing the right primer, you can paint over wood paneling more easily and with less mess!

Painting the paneling is the quick fix. The room will be lighter and look more modern with minimal effort. If the paneling has grooves, they add to the finished appeal.

Before painting, wash the paneling with a strong detergent like Mex or a TSP substitute, and rinse thoroughly. If the paneling is still shiny, lightly sand with medium sandpaper.

The next step is the key: prime with BIN or KILZ. These special white primers will cover the dark color and bond to the surface. After the primer is dry, paint with any high-quality latex interior paint.

Interior design is about creating specific moods and feelings, and it starts with choosing the right color for the walls. Light colors reflect more light, which generally improve the ambience of a room. Lighter colors also make a room look bigger, as they can hide imperfections in woodwork and trim.

The key is selecting the right primer. Special primers are available to cover dark colors like black or navy blue.

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