Looking to brighten up library paneling without painting

6 years ago

I started a post 5 years ago about painting my library paneling to brighten up our family room. After considering everyone's advice I decided not to paint. I have come upon product called Tempaint that you can put on and remove without ruining the walls but I'm thinking it looks too extreme. So now I'm thinking about upholstered panel inserts? But have not idea how to make. Any advice would be appreciated!

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bossyvossy

6 years ago

I think the visual clutter is what’s darkening the room, not the paneling. Try taking ALL but seating and coffee table out of room. Add white or cream throw blankets over seating to give the illusion of lite colored fabric. Then add an item a day, until you start having that “heavy room feeling”. Then stop. Just stop adding stuff. You need to do with less, not go buy new or more.

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Comments (9)

mjconti
6 years ago
I hope some experts give you advice. I'm far from an expert but hope you don't mind my making a few comments/observations. First, I love your paneling. It is absolutely beautiful. And your upholstered furniture looks ok. The problem I'm having is the assortment of tables: the tv stand, the ornate metal scrolled tables, especially the credenza with the 2 lamps with the red shades - the lamps are too small, too short. There's also another white table with a lamp that is too short. The items on the wall, especially the bird picture, don't seem to work. The fireplace wall looks unbalanced: the tv/tv stand, the large oval clock, and what you have on your mantle. I think this room needs to be 'viewed' differently. I'd remove everything on the walls & mantle (not necessarily permanently, - just to actually get a better 'view' of the paneling. Maybe it is a case of not seeing the forest for the trees. It is a very pretty room with a lot of potential. it just seem to have a confusing mix of things. Maybe you are trying too hard to minimize the paneling but using too much white, but what I am actually seeing is you are contrasting it too much and it is having the opposite effect. The one dark framed piece of art next to the door seems to work. Pros, I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say!
K Laurence
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I agree with the comments above. I don’t think the paneling is the problem, I think it’s beautiful, the room lacks a cohesive balanced look ( for lack of a better term ). I’m not a pro either, but I did notice that the lighting needs rethinking as well as some of the furniture & accessory placement & choices, but I do love the room, I’d like to have a library like that.
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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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Is this a year round location? If so, I would move the bookcase and put two comfy chairs near the fireplace. I would not replace the French doors with sliders. I also would not paint the wood. It's part of the charm, along with the French doors. I would paint the walls a warmer color, but don't darken the space. Declutter everywhere. Less is more in rentals. The circular cut out if a tad odd within the space. Can you square it up and trim to match other door surrounds? Since it is a rental, I definitely would declutter. Large piece of art over the fireplace. Remove the piano, it's taking up valuable space. No signs or wall words. When you invest in new furniture, find options using Sunbrella (or any indoor/outdoor) fabric. Any rugs purchased should also stand up to lakehouse wear and tear. A set of three framed lake travel posters/prints. Something where the art stands out and not the wording. Similar in style and relate to each other. Fireplace or wall art I have no idea where you are, so just selected soothing pieces.
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"I'd like to know more about what was done to bring out the best in the hickory." Primarily, choice of color. Hickory is bossy -- mine is on the far end of the spectrum of subdued patterning, but even so it needed colors that would play well off of it yet not outshine it; hence the choice of light and dark green. You can't really tell from the photo because my floor looks a bit redder in photos than IRL, but the floor was refinished in a color that's almost exactly the same color as the darker streaks and knots in the hickory, so it ties in beautifully. I also had to take into consideration what's going on in the rest of the house and tie it all in. I think that's the biggest mistake that people make when re-doing the kitchen, or any room really -- they refresh or remodel in isolation rather than looking at the house as a whole and how does that one piece fit in with the whole. Your house will tell what it wants to be, and congruence is the key to a great-looking house. I clipped this pic from a real estate listing a while ago as the perfect example of what not to do. NOT EVER. This kitchen is in no way, shape, or form congruent with that house, which was a log cabin in the mountains. Believe it or not, someone else had the same BAD idea: So start by thinking about what you like and take stock of what's going on the rest of your house and put thought into how to best mesh what you like with the rest of your home.
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K Laurence
6 years ago
And, btw I vote NO to the upholstered panel inserts
Marci
6 years ago
The paneling is beautiful. I agree with the other posters: the issue with the room is clutter and inconsistent styles of furniture. I would suggest the following: first, what do you use the room for? Second, what has to stay, and what can go? Then, you may want to do an image search for "dens" and collect photos that appeal to you.
bossyvossy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Another vote for too much large scale furniture and Knick knacks. No cloth paneling!
Lynn Jones
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for the feedback! And I agree that the room has always looked lopsided. Part of the problem is I feel the furniture is toooo big! I didn’t realize how big it was when I bought it. I used to have a sectional in there and didn’t really like that either. We mostly use the room for entertaining. We have tried the TV on other walls but it works the best for us where it is because when we have a crowd over you can see it from the kitchen. It would probably be best over the fireplace. Then we could have 2 couches facing each other in front of the fireplace which is a look I’ve always liked. I can’t really afford new furniture right yet so need to work with what I have. I agree I have too many lamps. I’m just always trying to brighten that room up.
erinsean
6 years ago
TV looks way too big for over the fireplace but does look a little "stuffed" in the corner. Can you trade places ... put TV where the console with round mirror on it is and put the console/mirror where the TV is now....looks ideal for watching. Maybe not be able to see it from the kitchen but we have a small TV in the kitchen for watching, maybe you could do that also if it is important to you and your family..
apple_pie_order
6 years ago
Buy four uplights @$20 each, one for each corner on the floor. https://www.amazon.com/Hampton-Bay-Uplight-Floor-White/dp/B001BTI0TW

Bossyvossy's empty-then-add method will work like a charm.

Looking to brighten up library paneling without painting

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mjconti

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Looking to brighten up library paneling without painting

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