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Paint Design Dilemma living room

Painting Wood Paneling - Den/Bathroom

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Hi All! We are purchasing a home and would like to paint the den/family room before moving in. Furniture will be less "heavy" - probably a dark gray pull-out sofa and black TV stand with light wood ottoman and end tables. The rest of the house has a light blue/green/taupe/gray palette with white trim. I'm pretty sure I want to paint all of the paneling white (maybe BM White Dove?) and leave the beams alone/natural.

I'm not sure what to do with the wall that is NOT paneled. I'm thinking gray, but should it be a light gray that almost blends in with the white (like BM Eternity), or a darker gray like an accent wall (something like Chelsea Gray)? Also, should we paint the doors to the outside and bathroom white also or leave them natural? Thanks in advance! Pics below for reference.

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Comments (5)

decoenthusiaste
6 years ago
Here's the key. Clean the paneling with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate,) rinse, let dry, lightly sand, tack off sanding dust, prime with 2 coats of KILZ or Zinzer primer, paint with 2 coats of your chosen color.

The wall with the patch and the big rectangular frame needs help. Is that a window? I'd consider closing it up and doing some more patching before painting.
phuninthesun
6 years ago
Congratulations on your new home. It has wonderful potential. I would paint all of the walls the same color. This does not look like paneling. It looks like tongue in groove knotty pine/cedar. If it is real wood then you will need to use a good wood primer for an even color. Dark-colored tannins from the characteristic knots of knotty pine/cedar can seep through your paint without the proper primer. Keep in mind that whatever choices you make regarding the doors and trim will need to be duplicated throughout the house.
Jessica F thanked phuninthesun
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PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
please no cool grays w/this paneling. it's a warm, yellow toned pine. pairing gray with it will make everything look sickly.

If you want to paint it out, do what was advised above, first. White Dove tends to be on the dingy side. I'd use Simply White. do the ceiling a bright white, leave the beams, paint out the trim around the skylight in the white. I'd stop there and evaluate again.

Maybe leave the wall of windows as is, with the paneling, and do everything else? If you could paint the very inner trim of the windows in black, it would look great agains the wood.

If you want to do the paneling, then go ahead,,,but I wouldn't use white dove

here's the white paneling and the light gray on the walls
Jessica F
Original Author
6 years ago
Beth H. I love that second photo - any idea what color that is?
PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Jed, there was no info on the pic. try some samples of Revere Pewter,,Maybe Classic Gray.

I do know that this one is Pale Oak.
Jessica F thanked Beth H. :

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