You need to take into consideration the quality of the paneling. One of my neighbors has pecky cypress in her house and it's gorgeous. My knotty pine, not so much. Not all wood/paneling is created equal.

well i painted my wood walls because I also felt like the room was too dark like a hole. I would never go back either. when i was looking for a house I saw plenty of painted woodwork and never had a negative thought except it gave the walls so much more character than drywall. in the end it is your choice BUT my vote is paint that sucker. It might be nice if you leave the trim the floor and the window dividers in the original wood. and me....well I know I am going to hear flack about this but I probably would paint the fireplace too.

We have no regrets about painting our knotty pine. Our house was full of it and it made us feel like we were living in a cave. We removed some of it, the rest we painted. Our knotty pine rooms were almost identical to that- but with red shag carpeting when we bought it. I'm with Msjay2u, I'd paint it all!

I hope to start painting our paneling this weekend! Ours isn't even as nice looking as yours.

Oh, lightlystartched, please don't tell my dh that paneling is coming back. I've been working on him for a looooong time to get the paneling painted. And yes, the men love it and the women want to paint it.

I think it's just a personal preference, sort of like wallpaper.

Robbi

Metromom,

I think the panelling needs to go. You could always paint over it, but I think it would be well worth the extra effort to remove it and then put drywall up so that you can start with a nice, clean slate.

I also live in a traditional Colonial, and our family room has panelling in a different color, maybe even more 70ish looking than yours, and DH and I are removing it and redoing the whole room. It was just last week that I said I can't stand the dinginess and drabness anymore, and that we just have to do something. I stay home with our 4 yo and 2 yo, and I am just going to use other rooms until the project is done.

I completely agree that some rooms can look wonderfully rustic with wood for the majority or even all of the wall coverings, but I just don't think this room falls in that category. The panelling just doesn't look all that nice, and chances are, being that you are in a colonial, you are not in the Adirondacks. Just my humble opinion. Someone posted a picture of a room that looked nice with panelling, but it seemed to be a nicer finish, maybe a knotty pine.

As for resale, I do agree that some buyers, particularly men, like a masculine, rustic wooden interior so that they can imagine themselves smoking a cigar (even if they don't smoke) and playing poker in their manly lair, but even most of these men don't like to envision themselves living in a time vessel stuck in the 1970s. A big difference.

Anna C.

I was going to say paint it until catt posted those pics!

We have real wood paneling on three walls in the LR that I can't wait to paint. In fact, there's a small square of BM Filtered Sunlight already on the wall behind a couch ;)

Even though the paneling is okay it's the same tone as the wood floors, wood furniture (including a large piano) and two huge leather couches. Everything fades into the walls so nothing stands out.

When I saw the pic of your room it seems like that's the problem -- some contrast is needed to showcase those beautiful floors! Definitely paint it!

Paint it or cover with dry wall. It will be bright and light and be up to date. I do sell homes for the last 15 yrs and unless this is an estate, it will just look dated. We tried to take ours off and nothing was under it so we covered it and it was wonderful. Good Luck

I'll go with what others here said... if it's not real wood, something special, I'd paint it in a heartbeat. I love, love, love painted paneling! It's used as a backdrop for so many fancy magazine pictures, and for good reason. It has such a wonderful homey quality. It would be different if it were real wood, went well with the house, or were fancy paneling. But medium grade paneling from the 60s? Paint it!

I'd seriously think of removing it. Since it's not the good stuff (solid wood) than I don't think it's something buyers would see as desirable anyhow. If this isn't a possiblity then I think you should paint it.

I'd knock about $10,000 off the resale value if that cherry panelling were covered up. I figure that's about what it would cost to have the paint chemically removed and the wood restored.

And what do you all have against dark rooms? I'll take the warmth of wood panelling over the sterility of generic white paint anyday.

OTOH, maybe i'd leave the walls white, and install a seafoam-green linoleum floor to complete the hospital-room ambiance...

I'm one who actually INSTALLED paneling so that I would have painted paneling in our new sunroom addition! It IS a classic (and classy!) look. I've always painted mine a rich semigloss creamy white...not stark white.

That said....do you have any pix of your room furnished now? And perhaps it's a simple matter of more/better lighting. Lamps...not overheads. Lighter upholstery, colorful rugs....art etc.

Are you planning on moving relatively soon as you seem very concerned with resale? I DO think of resale but not to the extent that I live with a room that I intensely dislike for more than a few years...if that long lol.

We have to be happy...........but please, PLEEZE don't drywall! You'll lose all the architecture and character. As someone mentioned, it is a look you see a lot in design magazines.

Meant to add that I DO think that your paneling is prettier than the norm. It's rich looking and you could obviously have a warm library look here. My TV room in my last house had northeast exposure under trees and was extremely dark....even with the white walls that we inherited. I figured why not do a dark masculine, somewhat "clubby" room and at least give it some style and warmth? It was the favorite room in the house..........visitors always loved it.

Love to see more pix.

I have to agree with lee676 - I have real tongue and groove oak boards on two walls in my bedroom (it is whitewashed), the oak boards are also in our playroom/computer room along with walnut, maple, and blue pine, I have cedar tongue and groove boards in our family room and the kitchen has oak. That's a lot of wood but we decided that was far better than drywall (and a lot more expensive). 25 years later my home still looks great, and everyone that comes into our home can't get over how cozy and comfortable it feels. You have to do what makes you happy.

I had a knotty pine paneled den at my last house. It was my favorite room and everyone who came to my house loved it the best too. I had it decorated in a lodge style. It was a comfortable room that guests felt they could put their feet up and relax in. My paneling was also 1/2" thick real wood. that makes a diffence too. If its good paneling i would leave it. If its cheap and looks cheap then paint it.

I just painted my paneled room BM philadelphia cream with linen white trim and it looks awesome!

I can see many of the points of view here but one person said exactly what I was thinking on first view...
I would think more of painting the fireplace and leaving that pretty wood paneling alone. The paneling appears to be beautiful cherry, not at all cheap and I'm in the camp that it would be a shame to paint it. The brick on the fireplace is what looks dated and the wrong color to go with the walls IMHO.

I agree re: the FP. I forgot to mention that...I've stained bricks before with a water based wood stain. You'd want to go more to the brown/orange tones here and possibly lighten up the black which really jumps out.

But I wouldn't worry about resale.......it's about what makes you happy.

I say paint it. My daughter bought a 70's house a couple of yra ago, and it had a paneled addition that was meant to be a den, we think. Since there is no formal dining room, we decide to paint the paneled room a med gold, and she purchased a dining set- It's beautiful! Never would've thought the room could be used for a DR. (BTW, your room is really pretty anyway, painted or not!)

If it is real wood I say don't paint it.

If you feel it has to be painted--only paint the other 3 walls and leave the fireplace wall/built ins the wood. That is a very tradition look and will be a nice warm focal point.

I painted my paneling also. It was on one end of my living room, and on the ceiling in between the wooden beams. I left the beams natural and painted the ceiling white. The living room only had natural light in the morning, so it was too dark the rest of the time.

I don't regret painting it.

Looking at your picture, I was thinking I would have painted the wall where the windows are and leave the end with the fireplace and shelves natural.

Maybe the pic is misleading but I actually think it looks warm and cozy, not dark. I would embrace the paneling as-is before painting.

OTOH, my wood paneling (in the upstairs hallway and bedroom) is super cheap. It was painted when we bought it-- thank goodness! I can see what it used to look like (in a closet) and it is uuuugly.

I would paint it for sure. I have a sister that insists that painting wood is a sin, especially if it is good quality. Her kitchen is a depressing cave to me, and I hate being in it. I think your paneling is nice as far as paneling goes, but the room would make me feel depressed if I had to live in it daily. I have beautiful walnut woodwork in my home, and the ONLY reason I don't paint it is because this is not our forever home, so it's not worth the overwhelming work involved since I'm not going to be staying here.

It is your home, do whatever it takes to make it a happy place for you and your family. I don't believe one bit that it would detract from the resale value of the home.

I look forward to seeing how your room progresses!

Here is a link that might be useful: My Home

I would leave it alone, or remove it. I really don't like painted paneling, and it always looks like someone took a shortcut. I really like paneling in a family room. As others have pointed out, it can create such a warm, cozy room. In fact, if anyone else is removing their knotty pine paneling (older), I'd be interested in buying it! We recently replaced a wall in our family room that had been removed by the previous owner, and we're trying to match the knotty pine. Yes, we're actually putting in walls, when others are removing them! I guess I really do go against the flow!

I should have pointed out that I like paneling only if it's the real stuff. Our knotty pine is 1/2 - 3/4" thick planks, with beading in between. If yours is the cheap, masonite-like stuff, I'd remove it.

I'm wondering if you just cover the wall behind the bookcase and above the mantel with anaglypta wallpaper, fabric or some other light colored paper would lighten up your room enough for you? I'm with Catnap, there are so many other ways you can give this room a lighter feel. What type of furnishings do you have? I see the light panels at the windows. That's a good start. A large faux fur sheepskin would look awesome with maybe golden yellow sofa and chairs.

In a word, yes. (And I agree with homemaker - paint the FP, too.)

If I were a potential buyer looking at your house, the dated brown paneling would be a turn-off. I love white paneling - it has a lovely cottage/Scandinavian feel to it. The rooms Catnap posted are very pretty but, personally, I like white-painted paneling!

But, as always, don't listen to what other people think you should do - do what makes YOU happy.

Did y'all miss this? ... The paneling isn't the super-cheap stuff but it isn't solid wood either. You can knock on it and hear that it's hollow back there. It's from the late 60s... The room feels very, very dark -- it just sucks the light out of everything. I keep bringing home rug and paint swatches that I love in the store and then when I get them into that room, they end up looking so drab.

If you're planning on moving anyway, I'd (personally) leave the woodwork alone and bring in color and go for cozy.

There are buyers who'd like wood and others who would prefer paint. Who has the money? Who likes the rest of your house?

Want to see some photoshopping of options for keeping it and making it work?

I think color is the most important way to breathe light into a woody room like yours.

How about the FP brick? Would you lighten that or paint it outright?

I had a house with beautiful woodwork, and in all the rooms, it was a real benefit, but the dining room had almost no natural light. I painted that sucker. The house sold beautifully - everyone LOVED the dining room.

The really splashy bits of woodwork, I left alone (in other rooms).

I didn't mean to imply, by the way, that I wouldn't PS paint, it's just that it's not easy to do on a paneled room like that (maybe a better PS-er than I...) : )

Just having run with your room (I know these things aren't likely your style... what are the chances?), but I wanted to demonstrate (as Cattknap did with the gorgeous rooms she posted) that color is the way to brighten a woody room.

OK, just for fun...

I wouldn't paint it. But I might find a way to reface the fireplace. It doesn't seem to go in the room very well. And a less rustic fireplace would make the whole room lest rustic feeling.

Ironically, that's almost my exact LR except my paneling has been painted. Also mine has no cool built in bookcase, just lots more brick down the whole wall, and up to the ceiling.

One potential option would be to paint inside the bookcase to add color and separation.

You posted in Jan and its now April 1st.
So what did you end up doing with that wood room?
Some said paint others said keep. Just a matter of taste.
I have never found dark rooms to be cozy.

If we bought your house, the first thing I would do is paint that paneling. I have always painted wood paneling if any house we bought had it.

Let us know what you did.

Our kitchen and family room is one LONG room. We have oak cabinets, and there was oak paneling all over - walls, soffits, backsplash. The good stuff, but one wall had faded from sunlight. After fighting against painting over wood for years, I finally gave in and we had the paneling removed and sheetrock hung in the family room. I absolutely love it and wish we had done it sooner. It really modernized the room. I haven't gotten up the nerve to paint the back of the two bookcases, though. Now I am going to paint the paneling in the kitchen.

You're probably not watching this thread anymore, but I thought I'd add my 2c anyway. I think the variety of replies you've gotten show that people will like the room whichever way you have it, if resale is a concern. I personally love wood, by I'm not against painting it if it'd make it nicer. (We had crappy paneling in our house and got rid of it all.) But first I'd consider painting the FP and maybe the cabinets. Then I'd consider going for an English country look, like in the top photo cattknap posted. The room has nice proportions and windows -- with a rug that picks up the tones in the floor, and some comfy furniture, I think it'd look fantastic.

I'm curious how this turned out too...what did you decide?

please don't paint it.

I would paint it so fast your head would spin, lol. Unless it is fine wood, you don't need to "preserve" it for posterity's sake...I would even paint the bookcases!

I find alot of wood depressing, and I would have painted it immediately. It doesn't look as though either way will have a negative effect on resale - people seem divided on this one.

What about staining it darker and then glazing it? Kind of like the cherry kitchen cabinets you see with a chocolate glaze. It would keep the woodwork but bring it up to the times.

I had a very similar room and painted it and OH! I LOVED the way it turned out--- just amazing and full of light. I would paint it in a heartbeat!

Thanks everyone -- it has been a good 3 or 4 months since I initially posted this and I've had time to really give it some thought -- and I'll be painting it. It got bumped down on the list of priorities, but as I struggled to find a rug, curtains, etc, it became really clear to me that nothing is working in there for me because the dark wood just isn't my style and never will be. So -- look for new pictures a few months from now (for those who follow other posts, my portico project and the glazed stripes in the foyer are my next priorities, and this will follow after those).

My apologies to those who love the paneling -- I wish I could just pop it in the mail and send it to you :)

I think you're going to love it when you get it painted. I can't wait to see the pictures.

hi metromom
i like your room. i don't know how many apartments you have lived in, but in apartment buildings, typically everything gets painted...brick, wood, everything. i would avoid that look. at the very least, leave the window and the brick fireplace and wood mantle shelf unpainted. you can always paint them later. painting windows is a pain and painted brick just says "cheap apartment damaged fireplace coverup" to me. good luck! kren

I would second kren_pa's comments. What if you paint the paneled walls, but leave the brick, mantel and bookcase/cabinets wood. That will give the room some character while reducing the darkness of the all-wood scheme.

I hope you post pictures when you are done. I agree that you should not paint the bookcases, at least at first. I think leaving the bookcases natural wood would look wonderful.

I just love painted paneling (and painted brick fireplaces too). When you paint, all that lovely architectural detail will still come through...and in a better color to boot.

In the summer issue of Beautiful Homes magazine (on the stands now), there's a featured home with painted paneling everywhere. It's gorgeous. The photo comment reads, "The home is swathed in wood rather than drywall. Walls are V-groove paneling -- wide boards connote a modern look." So there ya go -- you're cutting edge!

Metromom, It really does come down to personal preference. We had lived in this house for over 20 years before I could get my husband to break down and agree to let me paint the paneling in the family room. My daughter and I painted it BM Blanched Almond a few years ago, but we left the woodwork natural (dark) until recently. I hired a painter to paint the picture window and the 3 12-over-12 double hung windows in BM White Dove. I can't tell you the difference it has made and how much we are enjoying the new look.
Here's the old look:
http://picasaweb.google.com/AnnieB925/LeanCleanAndMean/photo#5145092556174618114
And here's the new look:
http://picasaweb.google.com/AnnieB925/LeanCleanAndMean/photo#5194353872555237922

What about floor-to-ceiling off-white drapes, a mirror over the fireplace, large art with white matting, and light colored flooring? Might work. Otherwise, paint it if it would make you happy.