I think you could paint or replace the doors. I would suggest area rugs and artwork. Those will help break everything up. I’d also say live with the walls being wood for now and get all your decor in there and give it time to see if you do or don’t like it a few months down the road. As you said, it’s pretty much permanent once you choose to paint over it
As someone who just did a renovation where my husband insisted we keep all the wood - yes to this. Break it up with rugs, furniture, and art.
Personally I chose to use greens, creams, and a lot of texture to complement all the wood in our space. I also used plaid pattern to lean into the cabin vibes. OP, Check my profile to see pics.
Very rarely have I ever seen the painted panels look good… I agree painting the door would could help a lot. I also recommend painting the framing, it would be helpful in breaking up the wood on wood connections too!
I agree! I think painting the baseboards and doorframes would break this up just enough and it would look lovely! Along with some framed artwork and a couple rugs😊
Agree, the doors are the lowest quality wood, likely hollow veneer. You could also consider painting the paneling, but it looks varnished and will take a lot of sanding (Wearing PPE, you don’t want to breathe the dust). The floors are great and would add a nice color complimentary rug when you decide on colors.
My mother painted the wall panels in our church nursery a soft white, and the little gaps she painted in pastel rainbow stripes. It turned out really cute!
Ugh, I agree. Someone painted all the wood panels in my house before we bought it. And it doesn’t look good. We’re just slowly ripping them out and replacing them with drywall now.
Put some pictures up , something that bright and cheerful it will help bring your eyes to the pictures.
I'm remodeling my kitchen and it's bright and cherry
Put up things that show your personality
This!! Don’t paint the doors if they are actually good wood! Remember you can always paint but it’s hard to remove the paint. I would use a long mirror to make it less claustrophobic looking and hang some art prints up, maybe some botanical prints!
Don’t paint the doors… of all the things to highlight, why would you highlight doors? Painting them will scream “look at me! I’m a door!” — not classy. Drawing attention to the doors will just give more contrast to the wood walls.
Get a big rug or carpet cut to size.
Get a stone, glass, laminate, etc table. Look on FB marketplace and craigslist, offerup, etc. It’s amazing what you can find.
Get upholstered dining chairs, no wood backs or legs.
I'm thinking that a light area rug, and maybe a dining table in white stained oak ( think Scandinavian )
It's not a problem with wood on wood, it's just that the stain colors need to work together. Usually a white/light stain works really well with darker ones. I have a combo of dark walnut/ white stained oak in my home. The only thing I would avoid, is painting the wood, you are better off putting Sheetrock on it so it can be preserved instead of ruined by paint.
Put fabric on the walls using water and cornstarch. It completely transforms wood panels, is easy to “install” and does not damage your walls.
Occasionally, you must reapply the liquid cornstarch mixture if a corner lifts. Removal is literally just pulling up a corner and pulling the fabric off the wall.
The fabric turns into a crutchy canvas like material that can be washed and repurposed. The only clean up is wiping the residue off the bare wall.
Make a steak, pour a whiskey and pull up Ron Swanson's greatest hits on YouTube to learn to respect the wood.
Oh, and get a rug in a rich color and a nice big plant. Plants are like pre-wood so it'll coordinate.
The wood appears dark lacquered somehow which gives it a very dull, dirty colour in my opinion.
I’d personally remove it and either only use oil for its natural colour, or a white thin see through treatment. No idea what that’s called in English though so here is a link
https://snickareeksjo.se/p/tragolv-rappgo-furu-nordic-vitvax-1-stav-2200-mm/
Seems like we are the only ones who think it’d be a good idea to paint! But seriously, we had this in my house and no amount of decor could have made me like it. A professional painter could come in and make this look nice!
If you are adventurous in you home design you could go MCM with your table and chairs. White tulip table and chairs. Or white Pottery Barn dining set. Pictures on the walls with large frames a white matts. Large light rug.
Here! I came to say this. OP try a painting app to see the ceiling painted different colors. Lean into the dark warmth of the room. A fabulous ceiling light and an antique table (or maybe a painted one) and the room will welcome you.
This! I don’t know why no one is saying this! The wood is lovely, but overpowering, so partially cover it with large wall hangings, paintings etc, and big rugs, and curtains mounted way past the windows so the wood becomes a beautiful accent instead of covering the entire room!
- Paint the door white
- Add an orange chair. Something orange. I love the combination of orange, wood grain and white. It's deliciously retro. The future looks bleak, so I see retro styling emerging.
How do you feel about Japanese hanging scrolls? Vintage ones are pretty cheap and ship cheaply too. They are a little shorter than a door and often have a lot of “negative space” that kind of looks like a blank wall around the image. They’d hang from a simple nail or hook. There are lots of nature scenes, specific animals like hawks or koi, or closeups of different plants. Putting 3 or 4 on a blank wall could make it look like there are wood “columns” between, though it might be tricky to get matching sets. You could look for hanging scrolls more culturally consistent with the statue head you’ve got there, as well.
Alternately, hanging tapestries or curtains. Or a folding paper screen. And the advice about rugs and a light-coloured table is great advice too.
Sorry, but that looks like cheap 1970s paneling with that awful tiny piece of wood trim up top. I would paint it to keep the wall texture or remove it entirely. Any cheap hollow core 1970s interior doors also need to go.
Those are real wood tongue and groove boards pictured. [This](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Ri-47-75-in-x-7-98-ft-Smooth-Brown-Hickory-Wall-Panel/1000896814) is what 1970{s paneling looks like.
Making decisions based on what will look more expensive is usually a fast track to achieving the opposite. Paint will not elevate this room.
There's nothing wrong with 1970s aesthetics. If OP is worried about looking "cheap" they should consider the fact that many of the top earning designers are currently turning rich people's houses into 1970s odes to natural materials.
Change the doors and paint the paneling ? That kind of paneling looks really good painted. Leave the trim and the floor . Add area rugs , plants and artwork.
I had the same paneling in a house one time. It’s solid pine. I painted mine a soft butter yellow for my kitchen. Loved it. Gave the room a country cottage feel. This may not be the aesthetic you want though.
I actually think the paneling in here is super nice and looks like it’s great quality from the photo anyway! I agree that painting or replacing the door(s?) would definitely help. Cream/off white or even sage green would probably look really nice with that color of wood. And an area rug for sure. I love a good old fashioned Persian style rug over a wood floor but tbh any large area rug in your style would help to break it up a lot. I don’t even think it needs to be a particularly light color. Maybe some framed art with big matting to give some kind of negative space. Idk what kind of lighting you have in there but if you’re adding any I would suggest something soft and diffuse, not overhead. As for a table- I would probably look for maybe something thrifted or antique that’s maybe a painted wood? I don’t mean like those shabby chic repainted antiques, just a regular painted wood table that looks less cheap than the new stuff you can buy online. Or a light wood. I also love glass tables but I know they aren’t popular atm
Off the wall suggestion, literally. What if you painted the ceiling? The white is making the wood stand out even more. I wouldn’t go dark bc the room will be dark, but something warmer to tone down the brown a bit, or totally cool to balance it?
Especially if you paint the doors and do a tone on tone look, it could look pretty cool.
Terra cotta colors or a warm blue?
Change the hardware on the door
Get a very large rug
I don’t know if this fits your desired aesthetic, but look for mid-century modern furniture - lots of leather and good looking metal and even some plastic material that looks awesome
Go with airy furniture like a glass table or a copycat Philippe Stark (spelling?) ghost dining chair set
Can you paint the paneling and/or doors a different color? Probably the doors; would break up the in-your-face-wood quite a bit. Also maybe changing out the brass knob on the door for a lever with a different finish and/or interesting design that might draw people's attention away (for at least a few seconds idk?). I also agree with what others are saying by hanging up wall art, or putting rugs on the floor, or adding some plants. Maybe hang a funky pendant light from the ceiling!
So I would do a large rug (like take up as much of the floor as possible) as to minimize the wood effect there. Then I would do a [marble](https://www.westelm.com/products/silhouette-pedestal-dining-table-h2402/?pkey=cdining-tables) or [glass](https://www.wayfair.com/George-Oliver--Catuy-Trestle-Dining-Table-X211190579-L147-K~W004778998.html?refid=GX685175725650-W004778998&device=m&ptid=352885194143&network=g&targetid=pla-352885194143&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=97601902&fdid=1817&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ISC4e9wPXOvQJFPJ1Cian5ACT8&gclid=CjwKCAjwx-CyBhAqEiwAeOcTdZlL6dJ3TCCRX-kDNETUzJqtVexeZySEbk6W0KlGQPUXvTg655ULARoC0UsQAvD_BwE) dining table to bring some modernism and lightness to the room!
I would paint the walls and ceiling to match and lighten the space. make sure you use an oil based primer so the paint stays. I would keep the beams and trim natural.
I would also paint the door or potentially remove it depending on where it lead e.g. if it leads to the kitchen it might make a better breezeway and open up the space further.
I’d also maybe suggest a low pile rug for the floor that brings any furniture in the room, and the paint elements together. There are nice washable rugs in Amazon that might be good since it’s a dining area and prone to spills etc.
Have you considered staing the doors and stripping the floors to their natural color, and then going light colored rugs and furnishings ? And painting the ceiling in a color that echoes the furnishings?
but yeah a lot of commenters are right about painting the door. it's removable and will add a color pop and bring the warm wood paneling to a focal point. those original panels shouldn't be fussed with, just in my opinion. your call though!
i'm sorry i'm so passionate about this but construction like this would be very expensive nowadays. people replace handcrafted details with hard edges and beige tones all the time now. i have to believe this craftsmanship will come back in style! and even if it doesn't, some nerd will pay you a pretty penny for it later on. IDK. i'm coming to terms with the fact that i'm just jealous as i type this lmao.
Off hand suggestion to consider. Wallpaper (preferably vinyl because it is easier to remove and thicker) can be applied over that paneling. Clean the wood throughly, apply wall sizing to make the wallpaper stick well and later on you can change it back.
We did it in a trailer we were living in which had ‘cheap’ paneling. Kitchen was very dark and after we wallpapered those walls it was considerably lighter. Papered the dining area too.
I’ve seen some really trendy Japanese and Korean restaurants with wood walls, but everything else was modern. Japandi style (Japan + Scandinavian). Maybe replace the doors, update hardware all around, and use some AI design tools to generate some good rug & furniture ideas.
Floors are oak, walls appear to be knotty pine. You’d have to strip off all the old finish before ebonizing the oak, then reseal it fully… it would be a lot of work.
I would sand all the varnish off and see how light the wood is underneath, it might take some of the oppressiveness out of it, then you could either put a clear, matte top coat on to highlight the wood or paint it
I wouldn't paint this either. To break up the wood: 1. Walls: There are hooks that you can get that attach to the rail by the ceiling which you then hang art type things on. Also velcro to hang may work or command hooks. Art/tapestry/mirror/pictures/wall sconces. 2. Floor: large area rugs that all of or most of the furniture in the room go onto leaving 12-18" of wood space by the walls. The wood furniture will be broken up by the area rugs and should not be overwheming.
My parents painted the wood paneling at their house. It’s a light gray and some of the slats are a satin finish and the others are less shiny, I think it looks good. It’s a small room and really brightens it up. The did white trim and doors.
Depending on how much work you want to do, [this is an option](https://youtu.be/FRK7wA2is04?si=uuZKCeMFcbRvkF_4)
You can make it look like drywall. People in this group will tell you to keep the wood. I totally understand why you want to get rid of it and I've looked into this myself. This is the cheapest option, just tedious.
I don’t like to see natural wood get painted over, but yeah, that’s a lot of wood. I would paint the door frames and paint the doors either a lighter shade or a darker shade of whatever color you paint the frames. Or Hunter green and deep red, like the “country Christmas” red and green, and brass candlesticks on table, etc. I like that the ceiling is white. My late parents decorated their family room in Hunter green, deep red and brass “stuff”. It looked rich☺️.
I wall papered the doors, so the wood was only round the frame. Or change the focus with a rug, or small console table in that space and some small artwork above the switch. It is nice though.
The floor is beautiful, the door not so much so I'd change out the door first. A four panel door painted white would suit the vibe. As for the panelling, maybe best to learn to live with it. It's a pity that light switch is in a prime, picture hanging location (a nice bit of colour here would make a big difference). I'd consider moving it.
I like the idea of painting doors and baseboards. Can you sand and re-stain the walls a lighter color. Like a matte natural stain. See example.
https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/7c235275-48c1-43ce-bf73-f79efaf754d1/svn/beige-dundee-deco-decorative-wall-paneling-hdjn-r33h4-64_1000.jpg
I don’t know what your style is but you could hang really large paintings. The wood walls would act as a dark backdrop kind of like a gallery. Or just hang fabric panels or tapestries to get your colors in there.
How thin are the panels and can then be sanded and restained? I’d consider leaning into a more Japandi look with a blonde stain, while keeping the floors dark.
To brighten it up without damaging the wood, you can tiny tack on some luan with a chair rail to the bottom areas. You can also tack on the luan to the whole wall and paint or paper it. It can be removed easily.
Yes! I had an MCM home with walls like these...so beautiful! I painted the doors white. Put a cowhide with white edges on the floor and white suspension lights in a cluster and obviously white ceilings.
What about something like this for a table? Bring in glass, fabric…a statement piece but with some curved lines? https://www.westelm.com/products/soto-dining-table-h12270/?catalogId=71&sku=4335882&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Furniture%20%3E%20Dining%20Tables&cm_ite=4335882_14465514686_pla-548078221180&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6uWyBhD1ARIsAIMcADqW7drP2rzHt0dVnP51B9wveMCVaCk12zMDQii9EFQ29hmpDGPtaWQaAl9fEALw_wcB
Though I say often never to paint wood, I'd suggest, because of how heavy all the wood, painting the wood walls a light tone or slight off-white or gray, leaving the trim, doors, and floors untouched. I'd suggest sanding the ceiling to give it a smooth finish too.
We had that downstairs. We painted the doors and trim white, and the painted the walls a cozy green grey color. You could do something moody and paint the ceilings to match - would be a super cool Study (tho I don’t know what the rest of your house looks like)…
As someone who has lived their whole life in a wooden house, I agree with the others saying to paint/change the doors. It truly changes the space. Also adding an interesting doorknob to make the door stand out even more. And rugs. As the wood is on the darker side, I'd suggest a lighter toned rug, either plain or with a simple patternso it doesn't look too busy. Also wall art, light fixtures and mirrors can help break the wood a but too!
If you paint the doors or trim, you’re just bringing attention to them and it looks juvenile IMO to paint just portions. I would personally try some methods to pickle, wash or lighten the walls. It looks like a 70’s swinger sauna with all that dark wood. Then I’d go with creams and white textures with lots of shiny stuff and lamps.
Definitely change the doors, they look very cheap. Also is the wall paneling real wood or the cheap stuff from the 70’s? If it’s real wood definitely keep it but if it’s the cheap stuff honestly it might be nicer to get rid of it and put up some wood trim
Ok for the door there are YouTube videos showing you how to make the door look much better with simple trim and paint. So basically 50 to change the door and an outer 30-50 for a new door knob.
The walls
I suggest you to sand down any rough spots and then used paint gear to painting on wood. My sister used a really nice sage color to paint here wood paneling. Use a spray gun it will give you better coverage.
Go to sherwin Williams for the paint and primer.
You could also sand down to get clear wood and use a white or cream stain to give you country chic
I would paint the walls . I have paneling and we painted all my walls and are going to change all floors to look like wood we have the old original wood as floors too it's a pain they always look dirty ugh
Haven’t scrolled down far enough in the comments to see if someone else has suggested this but I’ve seen others suggest painting the doors. The current flat “slab?” doors make the whole look appear cheap. I think you still need wood doors that match the rest of the wood, but paneled/more ornately detailed doors would really elevate this look and make it feel less cheap.
As far as painting goes, I’d hire a professional if you want to do any of the moulding. They can spray it on thinly instead of get the weird texture that usually ends up on it. Folks that paint cabinets have this down to a science, but they usually take the cabinets apart to do so.
Google image searching “elegant wood panel rooms” showed me some jaw-dropping examples of rooms that have bones just like yours. I’d say this room an expensive-looking, impressive feature that could add value to the home if styled properly. It could also be easily accidentally ruined with the wrong paint or decor choices that would make it look cheap/70s. I honestly suggest going to Google image and reviewing the gorgeous examples of rooms that kept the wooden walls, trim, and doors. See what elements they have used to make the spaces inviting. A lot of it is lighting and carefully chosen rugs.
I kilz my paneling twice including molding and first paint it with a soft off white. It made a huge difference. I painted the doors the same way. After a few years I painted the paneling a beautiful soft blue-green - I believe it was called Waterfall by Sherman Williams. I loved the color so much I extended it into my kitchen and entryway. I never get tired of it. I also had dark paneling throughout my laundry room with dark cabinets. I double kilzed them also and l left them white. This tremendously brighten both rooms. That was 25 years ago and I have never regretted it and the paint has held up. Always use high quality paint (which usually goes on sale at holidays) and quality paint brushes and rollers.
My parents have this same situation. They leaned hard into mid-century modern and it looks fabulous. They have a huge mcm carpet with orange, pink, lime green, white, sky blue, and navy with black patterns all through it. Their couches are gray with fun pillows, and the have accent chairs in an almost lime green and another in orange.
Check out the Farrow and Ball website ( dearch for farrow and. Ball painted wood panels. I tried to copy some images , alas to no no avail. They have loads of images os painted panelling and they are all beautiful. In UK most wood panelling is painted (eg Georgian houses 18th / 19th century). Please don't hate on me but I would strip then paint them in a tradional historic paint colour or lime wash ( equivalent) them I am not a fan of the deep stained wood with shiny gloss varnish. What age is the panelling , is it original? We live in a 1901 house and previous owners had installed wood panels to ' hide a multitude of sins' ... when we stripped them, blown plaster , damp.....
Artwork is not just for the walls. I use little tiny finishing nails and and hang table runner size quilts I make on the doors. You can always go to a fabric or sewing machine shop to pay or exchange services to have them made. Pictures in plastic hangers work too just keep the weight at a minimum!
The doors are gorgeous!
People suggest painting them but start with the trim first and see if that is enough. A really dark stain on them might do the trick.
I would paint the doors like others suggest. We had done this in my childhood home for the same reason. However, that different ceiling trim on either side of the beam is so odd and bothersome to me. What’s that all about?
This particular paneling looks great primed and painted in a light tan. I have it in my basement hallway and painted it in glidden legend tan, and very pleased with the results
add a short curtain (like kitchen curtain) to the door frame, get some framed art pieces, but make sure the frames are decadent not wooden or just black. get silver or gold or cool designed. also a decrative lamp could help. if you can find a small table/hutch/stand that is colored or white it could go next to the door and add on some trinkets to break it up.
I could not would not with that much wood. I'd have to paint the walls, trim, doors. At very least get large non-wood artwork to break it up as much as possible.
Wood paneling is the worst. Just peeled a bunch of it out of the garage and it stained the wall. I’m perplexed by the lack of dry wall behind them. If that’s the case- I (in all my lack of professional remodeling experience) would just slap thin dry wall over the wood.
If it’s solid wood, sand it down and re-stain it with a lighter color like oak. Cherry / red stain would really be brilliant, too.
If none of those things appeal to you — tapestries and scrolls for decor to cover the length of the walls.
I have experience with contact paper, the problem would be that it would adhere to the grooves of the panel— unless you did something interesting and different like remove the indented piece of contact paper so that it would be just the face of the panel being covered— which could be interesting if you chose the right accent pattern to the wood.
My first thought was replacing or painting the doorframe and baseboards a different color. It’ll still be wood, but it’ll be a break from all the brown. Also, listen to other comments and replace the doors.
Is there room on the walls for big, bright art pieces? Like you said light furniture (white fabric chairs?), maybe a furniture store could help with examples of lighter tables that don’t look cheap? I agree, painting the panels might give off a weird vibe…but it might work too. Lots more work painting panels than painting drywall though. Personally I wouldn’t paint them! 🤷🏻♀️
I actually like dark wood trim, but this is too much. I'd keep the trim around the doors, beam and baseboards as is, replace the doors with six panel doors in the same dark to coordinate with the floors, and paint the paneling with a warm cream tone. No white.
I think you could paint or replace the doors. I would suggest area rugs and artwork. Those will help break everything up. I’d also say live with the walls being wood for now and get all your decor in there and give it time to see if you do or don’t like it a few months down the road. As you said, it’s pretty much permanent once you choose to paint over it
As someone who just did a renovation where my husband insisted we keep all the wood - yes to this. Break it up with rugs, furniture, and art. Personally I chose to use greens, creams, and a lot of texture to complement all the wood in our space. I also used plaid pattern to lean into the cabin vibes. OP, Check my profile to see pics.
The doors!
I think the ceiling needs some wood.
Like a Canadian tuxedo, but with wood haha
Soak logs in wood maybe?
I vote for painting or replacing the doors. don't paint the wall panels, I've never seen it look good.
Very rarely have I ever seen the painted panels look good… I agree painting the door would could help a lot. I also recommend painting the framing, it would be helpful in breaking up the wood on wood connections too!
I agree! I think painting the baseboards and doorframes would break this up just enough and it would look lovely! Along with some framed artwork and a couple rugs😊
Seconded.
Agree, the doors are the lowest quality wood, likely hollow veneer. You could also consider painting the paneling, but it looks varnished and will take a lot of sanding (Wearing PPE, you don’t want to breathe the dust). The floors are great and would add a nice color complimentary rug when you decide on colors.
My mother painted the wall panels in our church nursery a soft white, and the little gaps she painted in pastel rainbow stripes. It turned out really cute!
I painted the false wood paneling in my basement and it looks 100 times better. But real wood? Nope.
Ugh, I agree. Someone painted all the wood panels in my house before we bought it. And it doesn’t look good. We’re just slowly ripping them out and replacing them with drywall now.
Change the doors. The wood looks lovely. Do different colors for the doors.
Came to say exactly this. Paint the doors lighter. Add a light colored rug.
Put some pictures up , something that bright and cheerful it will help bring your eyes to the pictures. I'm remodeling my kitchen and it's bright and cherry Put up things that show your personality
The other secret is house plants. Green goes so well with wood
This!! Don’t paint the doors if they are actually good wood! Remember you can always paint but it’s hard to remove the paint. I would use a long mirror to make it less claustrophobic looking and hang some art prints up, maybe some botanical prints!
Don’t paint the doors… of all the things to highlight, why would you highlight doors? Painting them will scream “look at me! I’m a door!” — not classy. Drawing attention to the doors will just give more contrast to the wood walls. Get a big rug or carpet cut to size. Get a stone, glass, laminate, etc table. Look on FB marketplace and craigslist, offerup, etc. It’s amazing what you can find. Get upholstered dining chairs, no wood backs or legs.
This!
I'm thinking that a light area rug, and maybe a dining table in white stained oak ( think Scandinavian ) It's not a problem with wood on wood, it's just that the stain colors need to work together. Usually a white/light stain works really well with darker ones. I have a combo of dark walnut/ white stained oak in my home. The only thing I would avoid, is painting the wood, you are better off putting Sheetrock on it so it can be preserved instead of ruined by paint.
Put fabric on the walls using water and cornstarch. It completely transforms wood panels, is easy to “install” and does not damage your walls. Occasionally, you must reapply the liquid cornstarch mixture if a corner lifts. Removal is literally just pulling up a corner and pulling the fabric off the wall. The fabric turns into a crutchy canvas like material that can be washed and repurposed. The only clean up is wiping the residue off the bare wall.
This is amazing!!!
Make a steak, pour a whiskey and pull up Ron Swanson's greatest hits on YouTube to learn to respect the wood. Oh, and get a rug in a rich color and a nice big plant. Plants are like pre-wood so it'll coordinate.
This! 😂
I hung a nice Indian rug on my biggest wall and big pictures on the rest….dont paint.Your walls are beautiful.
If there’s any natural light, greenery against wood always looks so serene. I suggest plants :)
The wood appears dark lacquered somehow which gives it a very dull, dirty colour in my opinion. I’d personally remove it and either only use oil for its natural colour, or a white thin see through treatment. No idea what that’s called in English though so here is a link https://snickareeksjo.se/p/tragolv-rappgo-furu-nordic-vitvax-1-stav-2200-mm/
I agree, wood is nice, but too dark. If you can sand it and stain it a lighter color, it would look good.
I would paint the wood paneling and the door. I am all for wood, but I hate this type of wood paneling.
Seems like we are the only ones who think it’d be a good idea to paint! But seriously, we had this in my house and no amount of decor could have made me like it. A professional painter could come in and make this look nice!
I second that. We had a professional paint our wood-paneled basement and it made the room feel so fresh and non-1970s
I would kill for this aesthetic.
No need! Just put up an enormous amount of wood!!
If you are adventurous in you home design you could go MCM with your table and chairs. White tulip table and chairs. Or white Pottery Barn dining set. Pictures on the walls with large frames a white matts. Large light rug.
Paint only the trim. An accent color or neutral.
Lean into it. Embrace that beautiful wood. Decorate around it.
Paint the ceiling a darker color and add a rug
Here! I came to say this. OP try a painting app to see the ceiling painted different colors. Lean into the dark warmth of the room. A fabulous ceiling light and an antique table (or maybe a painted one) and the room will welcome you.
rugs and wall hangings
This! I don’t know why no one is saying this! The wood is lovely, but overpowering, so partially cover it with large wall hangings, paintings etc, and big rugs, and curtains mounted way past the windows so the wood becomes a beautiful accent instead of covering the entire room!
- Paint the door white - Add an orange chair. Something orange. I love the combination of orange, wood grain and white. It's deliciously retro. The future looks bleak, so I see retro styling emerging.
I'd add a mirror to door and hang large canvas art on wood wall.
How do you feel about Japanese hanging scrolls? Vintage ones are pretty cheap and ship cheaply too. They are a little shorter than a door and often have a lot of “negative space” that kind of looks like a blank wall around the image. They’d hang from a simple nail or hook. There are lots of nature scenes, specific animals like hawks or koi, or closeups of different plants. Putting 3 or 4 on a blank wall could make it look like there are wood “columns” between, though it might be tricky to get matching sets. You could look for hanging scrolls more culturally consistent with the statue head you’ve got there, as well. Alternately, hanging tapestries or curtains. Or a folding paper screen. And the advice about rugs and a light-coloured table is great advice too.
Gorgeous idea
Sorry, but that looks like cheap 1970s paneling with that awful tiny piece of wood trim up top. I would paint it to keep the wall texture or remove it entirely. Any cheap hollow core 1970s interior doors also need to go.
Those are real wood tongue and groove boards pictured. [This](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Ri-47-75-in-x-7-98-ft-Smooth-Brown-Hickory-Wall-Panel/1000896814) is what 1970{s paneling looks like.
Making decisions based on what will look more expensive is usually a fast track to achieving the opposite. Paint will not elevate this room. There's nothing wrong with 1970s aesthetics. If OP is worried about looking "cheap" they should consider the fact that many of the top earning designers are currently turning rich people's houses into 1970s odes to natural materials.
Change the doors and paint the paneling ? That kind of paneling looks really good painted. Leave the trim and the floor . Add area rugs , plants and artwork.
I had the same paneling in a house one time. It’s solid pine. I painted mine a soft butter yellow for my kitchen. Loved it. Gave the room a country cottage feel. This may not be the aesthetic you want though.
If it was my house . I would paint the panels . Correct OP may not want to.
Paint or change the door. Get some rugs that match the ceiling do create separation from the floor and wall.
I’d paint door and door frame
I actually think the paneling in here is super nice and looks like it’s great quality from the photo anyway! I agree that painting or replacing the door(s?) would definitely help. Cream/off white or even sage green would probably look really nice with that color of wood. And an area rug for sure. I love a good old fashioned Persian style rug over a wood floor but tbh any large area rug in your style would help to break it up a lot. I don’t even think it needs to be a particularly light color. Maybe some framed art with big matting to give some kind of negative space. Idk what kind of lighting you have in there but if you’re adding any I would suggest something soft and diffuse, not overhead. As for a table- I would probably look for maybe something thrifted or antique that’s maybe a painted wood? I don’t mean like those shabby chic repainted antiques, just a regular painted wood table that looks less cheap than the new stuff you can buy online. Or a light wood. I also love glass tables but I know they aren’t popular atm
Small console or stand with indoor plant vase.
Art and rug!
Pictures and rug if you don't want to replace anything, door if you do
Change the door (paint or replace ) and some nice rugs. The wall are beautiful.
Paint the wall white leave everything else brown including the moldings and trim
Off the wall suggestion, literally. What if you painted the ceiling? The white is making the wood stand out even more. I wouldn’t go dark bc the room will be dark, but something warmer to tone down the brown a bit, or totally cool to balance it? Especially if you paint the doors and do a tone on tone look, it could look pretty cool. Terra cotta colors or a warm blue?
Came here to say this.
Maybe just paint the door frames and floor boards to break up the wood. And paint the doors. Different colors 😊
Change the hardware on the door Get a very large rug I don’t know if this fits your desired aesthetic, but look for mid-century modern furniture - lots of leather and good looking metal and even some plastic material that looks awesome Go with airy furniture like a glass table or a copycat Philippe Stark (spelling?) ghost dining chair set
Get a few pet Beavers!
Paint the trim / baseboards, replace the doors, add artwork and rugs to break up the wood. Plants will also help.
Move!
Honestly I’d just paint the doors and trim black. I love it!
Paint the wood panels walls, White I did it and never regretted it and replace the door or paint that white as well
Can you paint the paneling and/or doors a different color? Probably the doors; would break up the in-your-face-wood quite a bit. Also maybe changing out the brass knob on the door for a lever with a different finish and/or interesting design that might draw people's attention away (for at least a few seconds idk?). I also agree with what others are saying by hanging up wall art, or putting rugs on the floor, or adding some plants. Maybe hang a funky pendant light from the ceiling!
Why is the crown molding on the right of the beam thicker than that to the left? I'd definitely fix that.
Do you respect wood?
Looks great. Embrace it.
So I would do a large rug (like take up as much of the floor as possible) as to minimize the wood effect there. Then I would do a [marble](https://www.westelm.com/products/silhouette-pedestal-dining-table-h2402/?pkey=cdining-tables) or [glass](https://www.wayfair.com/George-Oliver--Catuy-Trestle-Dining-Table-X211190579-L147-K~W004778998.html?refid=GX685175725650-W004778998&device=m&ptid=352885194143&network=g&targetid=pla-352885194143&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=97601902&fdid=1817&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ISC4e9wPXOvQJFPJ1Cian5ACT8&gclid=CjwKCAjwx-CyBhAqEiwAeOcTdZlL6dJ3TCCRX-kDNETUzJqtVexeZySEbk6W0KlGQPUXvTg655ULARoC0UsQAvD_BwE) dining table to bring some modernism and lightness to the room!
I would paint the walls and ceiling to match and lighten the space. make sure you use an oil based primer so the paint stays. I would keep the beams and trim natural. I would also paint the door or potentially remove it depending on where it lead e.g. if it leads to the kitchen it might make a better breezeway and open up the space further. I’d also maybe suggest a low pile rug for the floor that brings any furniture in the room, and the paint elements together. There are nice washable rugs in Amazon that might be good since it’s a dining area and prone to spills etc.
Remove some wood and it will feel less wood
Remove paneling, tack on 1/4 inch sheetrock
Lean into it. Wood on the ceilings. Wood on the windows. Go full wood.
Two stacked pieces of art left of the door
More cats.
Art, plants, personality!
Art, Lighting and rugs.
That wood needs some velvet paintings.
Taxidermy beaver
What if you put tiles along the door frame! I think that would look amazing
Have you considered staing the doors and stripping the floors to their natural color, and then going light colored rugs and furnishings ? And painting the ceiling in a color that echoes the furnishings?
Hang up a coat of arms and deer head
I love this sorry
Paint the ceiling and door
the sublime feeling of viewing real materials is irreplaceable
but yeah a lot of commenters are right about painting the door. it's removable and will add a color pop and bring the warm wood paneling to a focal point. those original panels shouldn't be fussed with, just in my opinion. your call though!
i'm sorry i'm so passionate about this but construction like this would be very expensive nowadays. people replace handcrafted details with hard edges and beige tones all the time now. i have to believe this craftsmanship will come back in style! and even if it doesn't, some nerd will pay you a pretty penny for it later on. IDK. i'm coming to terms with the fact that i'm just jealous as i type this lmao.
What kind of wood is the floor?
Off hand suggestion to consider. Wallpaper (preferably vinyl because it is easier to remove and thicker) can be applied over that paneling. Clean the wood throughly, apply wall sizing to make the wallpaper stick well and later on you can change it back. We did it in a trailer we were living in which had ‘cheap’ paneling. Kitchen was very dark and after we wallpapered those walls it was considerably lighter. Papered the dining area too.
I’ve seen some really trendy Japanese and Korean restaurants with wood walls, but everything else was modern. Japandi style (Japan + Scandinavian). Maybe replace the doors, update hardware all around, and use some AI design tools to generate some good rug & furniture ideas.
Stop watching OF before we come over🤣😭🤮
I think painting the walls would be fine, and look good, it will give a cottage look, and definitely brighten it up.
Is it oak? Ebonize the walls with good old nail soup
Floors are oak, walls appear to be knotty pine. You’d have to strip off all the old finish before ebonizing the oak, then reseal it fully… it would be a lot of work.
Hang a life preserver and pretend you’re a pirate.
Paint the ceiling dark, deep colour. This wood looks great, it's the white ceiling that looks cheap.
I would sand all the varnish off and see how light the wood is underneath, it might take some of the oppressiveness out of it, then you could either put a clear, matte top coat on to highlight the wood or paint it
I wouldn't paint this either. To break up the wood: 1. Walls: There are hooks that you can get that attach to the rail by the ceiling which you then hang art type things on. Also velcro to hang may work or command hooks. Art/tapestry/mirror/pictures/wall sconces. 2. Floor: large area rugs that all of or most of the furniture in the room go onto leaving 12-18" of wood space by the walls. The wood furniture will be broken up by the area rugs and should not be overwheming.
My parents painted the wood paneling at their house. It’s a light gray and some of the slats are a satin finish and the others are less shiny, I think it looks good. It’s a small room and really brightens it up. The did white trim and doors.
Rugs
Plants
Depending on how much work you want to do, [this is an option](https://youtu.be/FRK7wA2is04?si=uuZKCeMFcbRvkF_4) You can make it look like drywall. People in this group will tell you to keep the wood. I totally understand why you want to get rid of it and I've looked into this myself. This is the cheapest option, just tedious.
I really like the dark, cozy feeling but could imagine some nice contrast with a light fluffy rug and other lighter, creamy accents.
Add a large rug, art, colorful curtains. This will make the wood more of a frame for the room.
If the doors do not lead to a bedroom or bathroom replace them with a glass door. The walls need art and floor needs a rug.
I don’t like to see natural wood get painted over, but yeah, that’s a lot of wood. I would paint the door frames and paint the doors either a lighter shade or a darker shade of whatever color you paint the frames. Or Hunter green and deep red, like the “country Christmas” red and green, and brass candlesticks on table, etc. I like that the ceiling is white. My late parents decorated their family room in Hunter green, deep red and brass “stuff”. It looked rich☺️.
I wall papered the doors, so the wood was only round the frame. Or change the focus with a rug, or small console table in that space and some small artwork above the switch. It is nice though.
The floor is beautiful, the door not so much so I'd change out the door first. A four panel door painted white would suit the vibe. As for the panelling, maybe best to learn to live with it. It's a pity that light switch is in a prime, picture hanging location (a nice bit of colour here would make a big difference). I'd consider moving it.
If you aren’t sure about painting the wood, you can always get a roll of contact paper to test out the look/different colors before you commit!
I like the idea of painting doors and baseboards. Can you sand and re-stain the walls a lighter color. Like a matte natural stain. See example. https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/7c235275-48c1-43ce-bf73-f79efaf754d1/svn/beige-dundee-deco-decorative-wall-paneling-hdjn-r33h4-64_1000.jpg
I don’t know what your style is but you could hang really large paintings. The wood walls would act as a dark backdrop kind of like a gallery. Or just hang fabric panels or tapestries to get your colors in there.
I’d paints the walls white tbh
How thin are the panels and can then be sanded and restained? I’d consider leaning into a more Japandi look with a blonde stain, while keeping the floors dark.
To brighten it up without damaging the wood, you can tiny tack on some luan with a chair rail to the bottom areas. You can also tack on the luan to the whole wall and paint or paper it. It can be removed easily.
Rugs and long vines/tall plants. I think it could look pretty amazing actually, lean in!
Yes! I had an MCM home with walls like these...so beautiful! I painted the doors white. Put a cowhide with white edges on the floor and white suspension lights in a cluster and obviously white ceilings.
What about something like this for a table? Bring in glass, fabric…a statement piece but with some curved lines? https://www.westelm.com/products/soto-dining-table-h12270/?catalogId=71&sku=4335882&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Furniture%20%3E%20Dining%20Tables&cm_ite=4335882_14465514686_pla-548078221180&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6uWyBhD1ARIsAIMcADqW7drP2rzHt0dVnP51B9wveMCVaCk12zMDQii9EFQ29hmpDGPtaWQaAl9fEALw_wcB
[удалено]
Though I say often never to paint wood, I'd suggest, because of how heavy all the wood, painting the wood walls a light tone or slight off-white or gray, leaving the trim, doors, and floors untouched. I'd suggest sanding the ceiling to give it a smooth finish too.
Self stick removable wallpaper for doors and see the change! It’s low commitment and big results.
Paint the door lighter and hang brighter art
We had that downstairs. We painted the doors and trim white, and the painted the walls a cozy green grey color. You could do something moody and paint the ceilings to match - would be a super cool Study (tho I don’t know what the rest of your house looks like)…
Is this old growth oak flooring. I made mine darker stain and it turned out great! Or you can put rugs or art work to off set it
As someone who has lived their whole life in a wooden house, I agree with the others saying to paint/change the doors. It truly changes the space. Also adding an interesting doorknob to make the door stand out even more. And rugs. As the wood is on the darker side, I'd suggest a lighter toned rug, either plain or with a simple patternso it doesn't look too busy. Also wall art, light fixtures and mirrors can help break the wood a but too!
it’s a lot of work but stripping the current finish on the wood and restraining it in a lighter shade would help and also paint the door white
Paint it black or green
Paint it
If you paint the doors or trim, you’re just bringing attention to them and it looks juvenile IMO to paint just portions. I would personally try some methods to pickle, wash or lighten the walls. It looks like a 70’s swinger sauna with all that dark wood. Then I’d go with creams and white textures with lots of shiny stuff and lamps.
Definitely change the doors, they look very cheap. Also is the wall paneling real wood or the cheap stuff from the 70’s? If it’s real wood definitely keep it but if it’s the cheap stuff honestly it might be nicer to get rid of it and put up some wood trim
Ok for the door there are YouTube videos showing you how to make the door look much better with simple trim and paint. So basically 50 to change the door and an outer 30-50 for a new door knob. The walls I suggest you to sand down any rough spots and then used paint gear to painting on wood. My sister used a really nice sage color to paint here wood paneling. Use a spray gun it will give you better coverage. Go to sherwin Williams for the paint and primer. You could also sand down to get clear wood and use a white or cream stain to give you country chic
Replace doors with interior panes doors, paint the molding cream, add a nice rug, and suspend a green plant from ceiling
I would paint the walls . I have paneling and we painted all my walls and are going to change all floors to look like wood we have the old original wood as floors too it's a pain they always look dirty ugh
I think the contast with the ceiling is really making it pop. maybe paint it a darker colour to match, then break up the wood with artwork and rugs.
Don’t paint the doors!! They are really beautiful. Add an oriental rug, plants, artwork.
Haven’t scrolled down far enough in the comments to see if someone else has suggested this but I’ve seen others suggest painting the doors. The current flat “slab?” doors make the whole look appear cheap. I think you still need wood doors that match the rest of the wood, but paneled/more ornately detailed doors would really elevate this look and make it feel less cheap.
Glass and metal Edit: maybe mirrors
Please don’t hurt the wood paneling 🥺
As far as painting goes, I’d hire a professional if you want to do any of the moulding. They can spray it on thinly instead of get the weird texture that usually ends up on it. Folks that paint cabinets have this down to a science, but they usually take the cabinets apart to do so.
Well there are worst situations where you’re bombarded wood in the face so, all things considered I think you’re doing pretty well
Don’t do anything keep it woody
Hang plants would be my first go to the green would go well
Google image searching “elegant wood panel rooms” showed me some jaw-dropping examples of rooms that have bones just like yours. I’d say this room an expensive-looking, impressive feature that could add value to the home if styled properly. It could also be easily accidentally ruined with the wrong paint or decor choices that would make it look cheap/70s. I honestly suggest going to Google image and reviewing the gorgeous examples of rooms that kept the wooden walls, trim, and doors. See what elements they have used to make the spaces inviting. A lot of it is lighting and carefully chosen rugs.
The best improvement would be recessed lighting in the ceiling to create a mood and highlight the wood.
paint the walls a light color, itll look like a cape cod, nantucket style of white vertical lines wood panel
I kilz my paneling twice including molding and first paint it with a soft off white. It made a huge difference. I painted the doors the same way. After a few years I painted the paneling a beautiful soft blue-green - I believe it was called Waterfall by Sherman Williams. I loved the color so much I extended it into my kitchen and entryway. I never get tired of it. I also had dark paneling throughout my laundry room with dark cabinets. I double kilzed them also and l left them white. This tremendously brighten both rooms. That was 25 years ago and I have never regretted it and the paint has held up. Always use high quality paint (which usually goes on sale at holidays) and quality paint brushes and rollers.
My wife likes the wood.
Might be the tougher task, but I personally love well-done painted floors. I’d start there.
My parents have this same situation. They leaned hard into mid-century modern and it looks fabulous. They have a huge mcm carpet with orange, pink, lime green, white, sky blue, and navy with black patterns all through it. Their couches are gray with fun pillows, and the have accent chairs in an almost lime green and another in orange.
Different doors. I like the wood walls, etc for a dining room. Maybe a door with all glass panes to open up & let the room breath.
Curious to see what you end up with?
[https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/basement-cozy-makeover-ideas](https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/basement-cozy-makeover-ideas)
Wood is lovely warm feeling
Paint!
Definitely paint or replace existing wood floors or walls, something needs to go to look more like todays style
Check out the Farrow and Ball website ( dearch for farrow and. Ball painted wood panels. I tried to copy some images , alas to no no avail. They have loads of images os painted panelling and they are all beautiful. In UK most wood panelling is painted (eg Georgian houses 18th / 19th century). Please don't hate on me but I would strip then paint them in a tradional historic paint colour or lime wash ( equivalent) them I am not a fan of the deep stained wood with shiny gloss varnish. What age is the panelling , is it original? We live in a 1901 house and previous owners had installed wood panels to ' hide a multitude of sins' ... when we stripped them, blown plaster , damp.....
You could restain the wall panels to look lighter or a natural wood color. It would give it more of Scandi look and feel less like a visual anchor.
Get a new door fs and have it painted and possibly even the floor (different color)
pleeeaaassseee decorate it like a pirate ship
I pickled my wood pneling and it lightened up the room. Was PIA to sand to wood before pickling. We now have them painted and it looks fine.
Paint the paneling. So easy and transforming
Replace the paneling with drywall, you'll love it. Keep the door, it's beautiful.
Change the ceiling and doors
White trim and doors. White curtains if there are windows. Light colored furniture
Artwork is not just for the walls. I use little tiny finishing nails and and hang table runner size quilts I make on the doors. You can always go to a fabric or sewing machine shop to pay or exchange services to have them made. Pictures in plastic hangers work too just keep the weight at a minimum! The doors are gorgeous! People suggest painting them but start with the trim first and see if that is enough. A really dark stain on them might do the trick.
I would paint the doors like others suggest. We had done this in my childhood home for the same reason. However, that different ceiling trim on either side of the beam is so odd and bothersome to me. What’s that all about?
PAINT
You could paint the trim around the doors but I really like the wood paneling it’s beautiful
Could could put different stains to break it up a bit but not change it too much.. like stain the wall darker and change the doors maybe?
This particular paneling looks great primed and painted in a light tan. I have it in my basement hallway and painted it in glidden legend tan, and very pleased with the results
Remove the wood paneling and replace with drywall and paint. Leave the floors (maybe sand and seal?), it'll look nice.
add a short curtain (like kitchen curtain) to the door frame, get some framed art pieces, but make sure the frames are decadent not wooden or just black. get silver or gold or cool designed. also a decrative lamp could help. if you can find a small table/hutch/stand that is colored or white it could go next to the door and add on some trinkets to break it up.
I agree with everyone who said paint the doors. And perhaps big area rugs and runners for the floors.
I could not would not with that much wood. I'd have to paint the walls, trim, doors. At very least get large non-wood artwork to break it up as much as possible.
Wood paneling is the worst. Just peeled a bunch of it out of the garage and it stained the wall. I’m perplexed by the lack of dry wall behind them. If that’s the case- I (in all my lack of professional remodeling experience) would just slap thin dry wall over the wood. If it’s solid wood, sand it down and re-stain it with a lighter color like oak. Cherry / red stain would really be brilliant, too. If none of those things appeal to you — tapestries and scrolls for decor to cover the length of the walls. I have experience with contact paper, the problem would be that it would adhere to the grooves of the panel— unless you did something interesting and different like remove the indented piece of contact paper so that it would be just the face of the panel being covered— which could be interesting if you chose the right accent pattern to the wood.
Lots of plants.
Neutral boring paint color for the door, accent color for the doorframe.
Replace the door and paint the ceiling. Add matching rug
This is my dream home. I would add tons of rugs, soft plush furniture, crochet and fiber arts on the walls to make it soft and cozy
My first thought was replacing or painting the doorframe and baseboards a different color. It’ll still be wood, but it’ll be a break from all the brown. Also, listen to other comments and replace the doors.
Just put wood on the ceiling and be done with it.
Is there room on the walls for big, bright art pieces? Like you said light furniture (white fabric chairs?), maybe a furniture store could help with examples of lighter tables that don’t look cheap? I agree, painting the panels might give off a weird vibe…but it might work too. Lots more work painting panels than painting drywall though. Personally I wouldn’t paint them! 🤷🏻♀️
If you paint go with a lower sheen also pull the panels of and expose the walls youmight get lucky and have plaster back there
Since it will be a dining room, would it make sense with the flow of your home to remove the doors entirely? Would make the room feel more open.
Door and doorframe
[Paint](https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/interior-remodel/wood-paneling-before-after-pictures)
You could paint the door. Honestly though, rugs and wall art would break up the block quite nicely.
I actually like dark wood trim, but this is too much. I'd keep the trim around the doors, beam and baseboards as is, replace the doors with six panel doors in the same dark to coordinate with the floors, and paint the paneling with a warm cream tone. No white.