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Design Dilemma Remodeling living room

How to update wood paneled living room without paint

5 months ago

Hi,

I am figuring out how to update a 1970s wood paneled living room. If it were up to me, I’d slap white paint on the panels, put in light colored LVP flooring, and call it a day. However my husband loves the paneling and is against painting it.

My main dilemma is what to do about flooring. The carpet needs to be replaced. I don’t really like carpeting because I can’t wipe it clean with toddler or pet spills, but is it the only option that would work here?

I also plan to put in can lights and remove the popcorn ceiling.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

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Comments (7)

Sammie J
5 months ago
What decor style do you like? Do you have pics of your furniture? Also pics of adjacent rooms?
C P
Original Author
5 months ago
I typically like clean, light, Scandinavian styling but for this I think a mountain cabin vibe is the direction we’d need to go to make the paneling work. I’d also be open to edgier options like cement-patterned LVP or stone tiles, with a large area rug to warm it up. I just don’t know what would work best.

We don’t have furniture for it yet. I’m holding off of furniture until the more permanent aspects of the styling are locked.

This is adjacent to a stairwell on the left of the photo, and the kitchen is the laminate flooring on the right of the photo (also not yet updated, so I might carryover the living room flooring into the kitchen if it’s not carpet).
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Kendrah
5 months ago
I'd do wood flooring with great rugs. I think the contrast of stone against the wall is going to be kind of intense.
okibujp
5 months ago
Cool room! My husband would want to keep the paneling as is too:-)! What about restaining it a lighter shade instead of painting it. It would give it a fresh look! once you redo the cieling, adding a couple of beams and the canned lighting would look great.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 months ago
Try cleaning the paneling well first - over the decades, it will have accumulated dirt even though you wouldn't expect so - especially if former owners smoked or burned candles. This might brighten and lighten it enough to look better. (Make your husband do it, LOL!)

Tile-look LVT can look quite nice with wood paneling - you just have to carefully select the patterns and color tones to work throughout your space.
C P
Original Author
5 months ago
Thanks everyone for your input! We’ll definitely get rid of all the popcorn at once through a professional who can handle aspestos mitigation properly. We’ll also give the paneling a good cleaning, but the unit has been mostly vacant since the 80s (used as a secondary home) so it’s actually in great condition other than some water stains.

I am leaning towards stone-look LVT carried throughout the whole apartment other than maybe bedrooms. Any suggestions on whether dark or light stone would pair better, or which color hues to try out?

I’ve seen that going too light could make the floor look floating, but too dark can make it feel small for an already small room.

Thanks!
C P
Original Author
5 months ago
I will also definitely go big on the rugs to warm it up and keep it cozy

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