Decorate Around An Old Wall Panelling

Wood paneling has a dated look.

Wood paneling immediately darkens a room, which can make the space look and feel smaller. When you have paneling on every wall, the dark color overwhelms the space, making the room feel like a cavern. But there are a few decorating ideas you can use to lighten up the space and tone down the heavy feel of the wood. Decorate around old wall paneling by hiding the wood or bringing in new elements.

Instructions

1. Sand the wood paneling with fine-grit sandpaper and fill any holes or chips with wood putty. Sand down the dried wood putty, prime the walls and paint. The new paint color tones down the naturally dark color of the paneling.

2. Measure the size of the walls if you rent the property and cannot paint the panels. Cut fabric into pieces large enough to cover the walls. Pry off the molding above the paneling, and attach the fabric with hammer and nails. Smooth the fabric down the walls, and attach more nails along the bottom and sides before reattaching the molding.

3. Decorate the room with mid-century modern accessories, if you cannot cover the paneling. This style was popular during the heyday of wood paneling. Give the room a "Mad Men" feel with a leather lounge chair or couch, brass pieces and a starburst mirror or clock hung on the wall.

4. Cover a few bookshelves with a coat of primer and white paint Put the bookshelves aganst the wall flush with the paneling. The white color lightens up the room, and the shelves take the focus off the paneling.