Do you like it?If not i would cover it with 1/4 inch drywall or paint it.

I remember when this paneling was popular...70s', Is it rough or smooth sanded? If rough, agree with jenny and would drywall it. Was normally glued on/over drywall. Yours' may be nailed but still would need new drywall if taken off.

Take it down. ÃÂ If you want panelling with an outdoor feel, install exterior siding. ÃÂ There are lots of pictures on houzz of rooms that use exterior siding inside. ÃÂ Otherwise, put up drywall in its place.

Painting will NOT help the paneling in your photo, it will make it look worse. ÃÂ We had diagonal pecky cypress on our screened porch that was painted a very dark brown. ÃÂ The dark color minimized the diagonal awfulness of the siding/paneling, but I still loathed it. ÃÂ When we lightened the overall color scheme, we painted the paneling, which brought its diagonal-ness to an even worse level. ÃÂ We finally replaced it. ÃÂ Your paneling is pine, not cypress, ÃÂ so although you will not have the problem we had with the pitted surface of the wood, those knots will eventually ÃÂ bleed through both Kilz and paint. ÃÂ ÃÂ
Before and after photos:

Before remodeling; the dark diagonal siding (previous owners' choice)

After five sprays of paint:

Mid- installation: We had enough clearance (deep molding around doors and windows) to put new color through hardiplank directly over the cypress, but we're prepared to pull to off if necessary. ÃÂ See the difference between the diagonal 70s look vs the horizontal:

Final product:
{{!gwi}}

If you want to preserve (and enhamce) the vaguely outdoor feel of that breakfast nook, do look at houzz for pictures of siding used in such rooms. It looks great!

Any idea what might behind it? I am the lone dissenter here, but I think it may look cool if you paint it. You can always rip it out or drywall over it later.

The answer truly depends on whether you want/need a faster/cheaper fix OR whether you want to go for a longer-term one ....

Also -- please consider posting photos of the whole area -- might help with answers too ....

a)Yes -- paint the area. Paint the walls AND the rest of the walls in the area in basic fresh white. Consider painting the paneling with Liquid Sandpaper (yes -- that's the name); wait until the finish goes cloudy -- and then paint well. Also -- consider painting the kitchen island to match the new wall color. THEN add items that will take up parts of the wall -- like a large corner nook OR a larger china cabinet with a table set as well as hanging large posters etc.

b)Take it all down -- and re-do the walls. AS wisely mentioned above -- just be prepared for problems if the paneling has been glued to the walls -- you may have to replace the actual walls. But then -- you MIGHT be able to change to a much larger window in that area too ....

I'd personally paint it out to black, or graywash it or something. But that's just me, and I'm tired of renovations and wouldn't want the mess (the DUST - ugh!) or to invest the time to remove and/or drywall over it.

Personally, I would paint the walls and live with it for awhile. You may like the look or it may bother you....at least you would be going the easy route. Be sure you paint the ceiling white or a VERY light color.

thanks for the suggestions. If the paneling were all going 1 direction I could probably envision using it it in some way the multi directional thing has me flustered :P

teacats suggested a larger photo so here ya go.

My vote is to remove it. The way it was installed, looks awkward to me.
I guess what they were trying to do is have a visual dividing line between the eating area and the living room.

Thanks for the larger photo -- yes -- the visually-overwhelming paneling really should be removed -- if you have the time and are prepared to redo the walls if removal damages them .... new construction might be a great time to put in a larger window and shelving OR a dining nook in the corner ....

BUT basic white paint may still be a temporary answer -- just be sure to do all of the walls around the whole area .... and then consider painting the island to match -- might provide a far more visually cohesive area. Add a large white-painted china cabinet on the back wall -- and a much larger table set.

I had that exact same wood/wall pattern in a basement alcove (it was a hot tub room). LOL. I ripped it out and what a mess. Mine was cedar and I can't tell if yours is cedar or pine.

Anyway, I'm with NoSoccermom on this one -- I'd paint it first and live with it for awhile -- it is kinda of cool. You can always rip it out later when you are up for a challenge.

Well, I would assume that the diagonals will be less obvious when it's painted because it will all be one color; also, it'll blend in more with the plain wall.

If it's a smoothly finished paneling, is there any possibility of filling in the grooves with wood putty, sanding it all level, then priming (two coats with a blocking primer) and painting it (two coats)?

If you were able to fill in the grooves, you would totally eliminate the diagonal lines.

I've seen this done with traditionally hung paneling and it looked just like painted drywall when finished.

thanks for the suggestions. If the paneling were all going 1 direction I could probably envision using it it in some way the multi directional thing has me flustered :P

teacats suggested a larger photo so here ya go.

{{!gwi}}

We have younger and groove cedar planking installed on an angle like yours.
We water downed light beige paint and white washed the planking.
It looks nice and I'm happy with it. A bit of the wood tone shines through
and that was our intention.

This is a pic I took a couple of weeks ago. If you want a closer pic, I can take one for you.
I like the whitewashed look over the painting.
As you can see the shading of the wood and the knots coming through.

Found an old pic from 2008 It's sharper and clearer.

This post was edited by cliff_and_joann on Tue, Jul 2, 13 at 8:41

I really like Cliff and Joan's- it looks light and modern to me especially with all the "chevron" going on right now. Remember if it was put there to be an accent wall and if you treat it like an accent it will blend in. In my opinion, focal walls and accent walls are two different animals. An accent compliments the area and doesn't overpower; while a focal point steals the show; I think the decision is your's which way to go.

Do you have a overall plan in mind for the space or just know you hate it? If you don't have a plan, I would try to work with it until you know for sure where you are heading. Plus whitewashing is a fairly easy and fast fix. =)

Another consideration is that you may put some furniture piece on one or perhaps both of these walls as well as some wider window treatment. This would already cut down on the exposed space.