Home Re: Wood Paneling back?

[isaku5]

I wasn''t sure where to post this, so if it''s in the wrong forum, admin, please move it to the correct one.

We have lived in our current home for over 30 years. When it was built in 1968, the family room was paneled in a medium colour "oak". I''m sure it went out of style decades ago, but now, when we''re finally going to wallboard over it, I''ve been reading that wall paneling is "back". I''ve looked at a few decorating magazines, but have seen nothing much about it.

Does anyone know whether it''s back?

 

[lyra]

I''d say no. Maybe an oak panelled den or library, but not in principal rooms. I think most people want drywall these days. A clean slate.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I don''t think the synthetic "wood" paneling will ever come back. I think REAL wood paneling is popular (though many times I see it painted) like recessed or raised paneling.

 

[Aloros]

I''d have to agree with lyra and tacori. I''ve been looking at houses and have been around to a couple with the wood paneling. It''s always come across as outdated.

If wood paneling is really back, might it be back in an updated form? Maybe the new thing is to have painted wood paneling or wood paneling stained in a certain shade or wood paneling in certain rooms.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I grew up in a house that was built in 1920s and we have a lot of wood paneling. But it was a really dark, rich shade and really was beautiful. It even had hidden storage and the powder room door blended in (had to look close to see the knob). It was really cool. I agree with Aloros, it has to be the right shade and a high end wood. If you are on a tight budget I would just paint it. My inlaws have the fake stuff in a lake house and she painted it all white. Looks SOOO much better now!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

One of the homes we''ve looked at recently was built in the 70s and has been completely remodeled, other than the living room being in wood panels. I didn''t like, originally. Then I noticed it was real wood (with some knots and everything), and it grew on me. It adds a nice texture. I don''t know that if we were to buy that home that we''d keep the panels, though.

 

[somethingshiny]

If the choices are wallboard or leave it. I''d leave it. Wallboard will only add to the dated feeling.

THREE WAYS TO USE PANELING

1. Stain it a dark color (after a thorough cleaning).
2. Paint it, prime it with KILZ so the paint will stick and you won''t get that bleeding through.
3. Fill in the panel seams with a "mud". Then you can sand it smooth and paint it, and it will look just like a regular wall.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I like it when it is is the style of older houses where it only comes up to waist height and is lined by wainscoting (sp). It is nice without being overwhelming or making a room too dark. I have to agree only if it is real wood though.
I have seen full wall wood panaling quite often in office and confrence spaces but rarely in homes, if this interests you perhaps you should look at commercial uses of it for more ideas.

 

[monarch64]

I agree with above posters, it can''t be the fake stuff...it''s got to be a really nice, "real" wood and done right otherwise it does look dated. We re-finished our basement in a beautiful knotty pine floor-to-ceiliing paneling and it looks natural and beautiful and will likely be a good selling point. (We''re in the midwest, btw.) My brother is currently re-habbing his first house and has done knotty pine throughout the living room and kitchen, achieving a very beautiful yet rustic look that is coveted in his particular area (southern IN). My parents have a 30-yr.old house that features dark walnut cabinets and partial paneling in the kitchen and exposed beams in the family room, and now that they''re getting ready to sell the home they''ve been told also not to do anything to any of it, it''s all solid wood and is considered a selling point or so their realtor tells them.

Natural woods can be gorgeous, I think it''s just a matter of staying away from certain stains or styles like someone else mentioned. Woods are an essential part of a home, no reason not to panel or use paneling in decor but don''t overdo it or do anything that might look dated to potential buyers. Isaku, I wonder if you just stained your wall paneling a different color than the "medium oak" it is now, maybe go darker or refresh the paint above it, instead of wallboarding over it? Do you have a realtor yet? What do they say about the paneling? I would try to get a gauge on what you should do from someone like that before doing anything.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Can you post a picture of your room? Then I think we can better advise you.

 

[lumpkin]

Our house was built in the 70''s and we had really dark panelling. I wanted to paint it but my hubby said absolutely not. Turns out it is about 3/4 of an inch, tongue and groove ash. About 11 years ago we took a sander and sanded off all the dark stain. Ash is so hard that we couldn''t get all the stain out of the grain, but 99% of it came off. We used a dremel to sand the indented parts. Then we just applied polyeurathane and it turned out really cool, especially with that tiny bit of stain left in the grain. We left the dark stain on the trim and the ceiling beams, and the room has a really warm honey glow. I love it and I''m one who would generally prefer to paint all the trim and likes smooth drywall more than other types of walls. That said, I''m glad it''s only in the great room and not everywhere. A little goes a long way.

 

[lumpkin]

Oh, and I think a lot of men really like that rich panelling, where women don''t so much.