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Home Decorating Design Dilemma living room

Decorating a room without painting paneling

6 years ago

We are pulling up carpet and putting down vinyl plank flooring. Our debate is if we want to paint the paneling. Answer is no. We know the room will look better if we do but we are in our 60's and 70's and we don't want to keep painting the paneling every few years. Our paneling color is pecan. Have any ideas on how we can decorate the room to brighten it up without painting?

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deegw

6 years ago

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Comments (6)

deegw
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Can you post a picture of the room? The obvious suggestions are more lighting in the room and light colored rugs, furniture and window treatments. It can be tricky because a dark room can make light colors look dingy.

You could embrace the dark and decorate with jewel tones.

Make sure your paneling is very clean and polished. It will help brighten the room too.
Olychick
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If you think you would like the paneling painted, if you explore some quality paint brands and types within those brands, you may never have to paint it again. I have rooms in my home that haven't been painted in 20 years and they still look good. Granted, I'm not hard on the rooms, I don't cook with much grease, nor do I have dogs or kids that put their hands on those walls, but if you are low impact (as I imagine many others in their 60's and 70's are), you likely won't have to paint again.
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I think I've almost talked dh into painting the paneling...
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Oh, that is great about painting the paneling. I briefly looked at the site on your other pictures. Love that furniture!! Especially the brown/white cow looking things!! Oh, and that conversation leather sofa is very cool - wouldn't that be awesome in a big ole Texas size room!! Love that you already have horns on your walls!! My aunt just had a chair done from Henredon - it is the coolest fabric. Kinda navajo but very classy. I looked on Henredon's site but they don't have all of their fabric. Do you have a store that sells Hendredon near you. She put it with a leather sofa - tufted back. Very good looking - yours could be opposite - leather chairs and that fabric - golds, greens, reds. She lives 2hours away or I would get you a pic. I agree with everyone else - don't worry with filling it in. Keep it rustic. Happy for you. Smiles:)
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Put a wall hung corner half cabinet where the greeney is. You know you want a clutter free space, so I would remove the mirror, etc left of the door. and the panels on either side of the French door. Consider a different chandelier. Yours is too delicate and too small to work with what you have as pendants over the peninsula.
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Comments (13)
totally agree, the room is fabulous and to create that type of look today would be a fortune! Some thoughts: -lose the mirrors, except maybe get a nice framed one to put above the fireplace -Shop for a new front door -New hanging light - maybe modern, or maybe a large chandelier, depending on your vibe -The cupboard doors in the built ins around the fireplace seem overly gaudy - I would match the rather plain molding style in the paneling with new doors stained to match and that will modernize that wall. -lose the shutters and replace with some rolling solar shades if needed and some full length drapes -more wall wash accent lighting around the perimeter of the room in the flat ceiling - a leather sofa, some club chairs, a vibrant rug and it could be fabulous. -A game table in front of the windows would be fun too, or a pool table. - don't think it is too dark - I would not touch the wood and would leave the white paint, using vibrant furnishings and art to bring in the color
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Comments (26)
I don't have a good picture of that space but I do have a good image of a north facing bedroom where I have Ballet White on walls & ceiling. In this one image you can see all the various undertones that pop out with this color depending on how the light hits it. It's a real chameleon! All the wood work here is Shaker Beige. At the top of the picture note the ceiling is angled and there you can see how Ballet White has a pinky grey tone. On the wall above the shoes it reads much brighter - a grey/taupey white. It is absolutely a 'muddy' color, not 'clean.' I have used it successfully with challenging hard surfaces that I can't change right now (like this orange pine floor, where I have a pinky-taupe faux travertine in a laundry room, and in a guest bathroom with a pinky grey granite countertop). If you don't have a reason to use it, I wouldn't just because it is so variable. IMHO White Dove or Simply White are way better colors and far more consistent across seasons and surfaces. I would paint some large samples and move them around the room. Good luck!
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erinsean
6 years ago
Wewere about your age when we painted our paneling...first it was white for about five years and then we painted it soft yellow and has been perfect for at least 10 years. Brightened the room so much. Just be sure you get a good paint.....we painted our paneling whith Kiltz and then the paint over that. Grandchildren have touched it...played here and it still looks good. Just wash the little hand prints off now and then.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If the only reason you're against painting is fears about upkeep, FWIW, my parents painted some of the paneling in their home back in the 80s & it still looks like new - not flat finish, a satin finish & scrubbable antique white.
mzdee
6 years ago
What kind of paneling do you have? It is solid wood or the the thinner version? If you like the paneling (and against the current trend, I love beautiful wood paneling), then please don't consider painting it. If you don't care for it, go with painting. I painted paneling in my first house and it was very durable; didn't even need to touch it up when I sold. Ultimately, be sure that you do what makes you happy and gives you the feeling that you've "been hugged" when you walk into the room.

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