Dear Debbie: I need to repaint a bedroom that has painted panelling, but it looks like the panelling is warped. I cannot afford to replace the panelling at this time. What can I do to cover it up?
D.D.
Paint is a brilliant decorating tool, but it won’t fix a warped wall. Whether you rent or own, you should look into what has caused the warping. Is there water or dampness behind the wall? This should be taken care of before any more damage ensues.
That being said, there are many ways to decorate these veneer (or plywood) panels that will act as a kind of camouflage as well as build on a particular theme or style. Why not add a chair rail to break up the wall?
As shown here, the upper walls have a base coat of creamy white and a darker taupe dry-brushed over the cream to break up the colour.
The wainscotting started with a rusty red base coat, then was covered with a coat of teal. Once dry, the surface was sanded lightly to reveal some of the red paint underneath. This gives the impression of wear and tear over time.
As a finishing touch, stencils were applied to the upper walls using the panel grooves to line up the designs. The colours and worn paint techniques complete the room’s heritage folk country theme, perfect for a bedroom or dining room.
Dear Debbie: We have a second home built in the late 1950s in a lakeside community, with chestnut-coloured wood panelling in the open living/dining room area.
It feels dated and we’d like to paint it, but hesitate because the panels are real wood.
Do you have any suggestions for paint, technique and outcome?
Pat
If you are looking to update these rooms, there is no reason to hold back. Two coats of a creamy white paint will look warm and rich as well as lighten the space. You will also discover that the white paint will enhance the moulding details on the panelled walls. If the wood panels don’t cover the entire wall and there is space above, then experiment with two finishes. Paint the panels a solid white and choose a shade of paint or a wallpaper design that is on trend for the upper wall. Rustic Country is very popular, showing all tones of grey, nature themes and splashes of strong pastels.
Dear Debbie: On an episode of The Painted House, you used stain to crackle over paint on two night stands. Please remind me what technique you used. It looked great and I don’t want to ruin my table.
Connie
The technique you are after uses a product called crackle varnish, which you can find at craft stores. It is a kit that has two different varnishes that don’t like each other so when applied, one over the other, cracks appear.
The crackle varnish is applied over whatever base coat you have painted onto your table.
Once the cracks appear, rub burnt umber artist’s oil over the surface and wipe the excess off with a rag. This highlights the cracks for an authentic aged appearance. You can also use wood stain to highlight the cracks. Finish with an oil-based varnish.
Debbie Travis’s House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s website, debbietravis.com
