Painting or Refinishing--Some Options to Consider

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 wainscotings and say  “It’s way too orange!” That can be true which is why when you refinishing 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. Here we review some examples of gorgeous wood paneling that bring character and life and richness to their interiors:

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 a large 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 complementary 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 colors of oak and its grain.

Refinishing vs Painting

One current trend that has some heading to home depot and buying 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 often because it’s the owner is not aware of what it possible. 

The richness, quality, and beauty of well-done wood paneling is rich and warm. This can make 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 gives the eye 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. :)

M & B Painting, a Father-Son family-run business, has a proven record of Service Excellence in residential and commercial interior and exterior paint projects. Call us at 623-289-3366 for all of your painting needs!