DIY Painted Paneling - Sand Free!
/If you’ve been following along on TikTok, my latest feature project is painting the paneling (and bookshelves) in my living room! So many people told me not to do it. I wanted to love it. I just couldn’t. There were about 3-4 different wood tones in this room I simply could not handle it! ;) Let me say though I have not looked back once since painting it and I would do it a million times over. Here’s a quick reminder of the before and after of this space.
It may look like a lot of work - but the good news is I found a way to do without sanding, saving literal hours (maybe days) and tons of dust! My paneling was super high gloss, varnished and I am so thankful for the person at the Sherwin Williams paint store who told me, “No mam, you don’t have to sand - just use this!” You sir, are a savior.
Let me introduce you to Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer. Just roll it on with a small low-medium nap roller and use a paint brush to get the corners. (Typically, I do the corners first then use the roller to smooth out the brush marks). I then let it cure about 24 hours before painting, though it does dry quick so you’ll have to work in small sections to not leave any brush marks. I did not get this primer tinted a color, though you can if you’d like. I did one coat of this primer - that’s it! Here is what it looked like after one coat. Going on it creates a sand-like texture.
Next up, we are just a paint, paint, painting. I chose SW SuperPaint because it claimed to be both a paint and primer in one. And it did not disappoint. Remember, I am painting DARK wood WHITE. Could be a nightmare. My painting advice always is: DO NOT BUY CHEAP PAINT. Cheap paint just makes your job harder (and it makes a bigger mess). Trust me on this.
The color I chose was SW Alabaster in Satin finish and the dry time was pretty quick. I did one coat in one day and the second the next day. That’s it! Again, I used my same technique with a small roller and paint brush for the corners. I also caulked the ceiling to help fill the gaps. Now, if I had a paint sprayer, it would have been way easier - but I don’t so I just rolled it on and it worked totally fine! I also felt very in control of rolling on the coverage and not making a mess.
I am so happy to say that about 14 months later, this paint is holding up beautifully and I just use a Mr. Clean Magic eraser to clean spots here and there and it’s no fuss at all and still looks as good as the day I painted.
If you are thinking of painting your paneling, go for it. Your room will feel taller, brighter and just overall happier! If you have any questions, please let me know and I will do my best to help answer them.
xo and happy painting,
Jackie