Painting or Refinishing?

Wood paneling can make a room feel old and tired (not to mention dark, musty, and reminiscent of the '70s), but it can also be seriously stylish when done right. When done right, the fresh wood in your paneling is beautiful. Natural wood panels make great bones for the house and, when done well, are elegant and beautiful. This also holds true for cabinet doors in the kitchen. 

But the main issue people often face when considering painting over refinishing is the color – we have heard people point to tied old wainscoting and say, "It's way too orange!" That can be true, which is why when you are refinishing you can keep the original wood and beauty but, at the same time, update the colors to a more modern and fitting color for your room.

Color options and how to decide:

If you want to feature or highlight oak wainscoting, choose a wall color above that plays off the wood's golden richness. You might think high-contrast Merlot, Tuscan, or Nutmeg walls would be overpowering, but in ample space, the opposite is true -- dark shades seem to recede and allow lighter elements to come forward. If dark walls aren't for you, consider pairing complimentary light or mid-blue against honey oak, or warm chestnut. In tight quarters, allow the oak to ground the space by combining it with paler creamy white above. You'll achieve subtle contrast and floor-to-ceiling light reflection, which makes a room seem larger and airier.

Downplay the wood

If you'd rather downplay the room's woodsy element, blend it into the background with wallpaper. Avoid similar patterns, such as stripes, plaid or angular geometrics, which will clash with wainscoting stripes or lines. Instead, go with a polar opposite large-scale paisley, ikat or floral print for attention-grabbing boldness. The "disappearing act," however, mainly depends on the paper's colors, such as goldenrod, light brown, and honeysuckle, that mimic or camouflage the tones of oak and its grain.

Refinishing vs. Painting

One current trend that has some heading to Home Depot to buy some paintbrushes is painted wood paneling. That glossy, polyurethaned, heavily-grained, medium-colored oak paneling that went into houses 100 years ago has some people wanting a change, but that is because it's the owner is not aware of what it possible. 

The richness, quality, and beauty of well-done wood paneling are rich and warm. This can give a room depth and charm that paint cannot match. Wainscoting provides the perfect mix of function and style by adorning the lower half of walls while also protecting the wall from scuffs and smudges. Visually, wainscoting can add texture. It helps a tall room feel homey instead of cold and flat, giving the room warmth. Wainscoting enhances the room's structure. The added wainscoting splits the wall into two sections and provides the eye with a line that is easy to follow, adding to the room's structure.

Best of both worlds?

There's no shame if you secretly dig the wood grain texture of your walls and want to keep this weathered focal point. A technique called "whitewashing" (not to be confused with old-fashioned whitewashing with lime) allows you to keep that in your room while losing the inside-of-your-coffin look. :)

The Wood Doctor is the leader in wood restoration, refinishing and refacing in the Portland area. Call 503-560-5220 for a project consultation.