Bedroom Makeover: Before – Painting Wallpaper and Panelling

Painting Wallpaper and Wood PanelingWhen you have a room that’s not so easy on the eye, a little paint can go a long way!  Welcome to the second bedroom of my little cottage reno, where decades of stories live in the walls, but style definitely does not.

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This room is a bit of a problem room, but nothing I can’t handle. The old wallpaper covers wood fiber board walls, which leaves few options for refinishing and staying in budget. Simply ripping down the wallpaper and painting the unfinished walls wouldn’t be the best option, and tearing down the boards to replace with drywall just isn’t an expense that was planned for.

With that in mind, I decided to paint the entire room, covering the wallpaper and all. Not always the most ideal option, but when it’s what you have to work with, it’s the best option!

I consulted with a decor expert using the free Ask an Expert service on the CIL paint website. All I had to do was submit a photo of the room and outline my concerns/questions regarding the application, type, or colour of paint that would work best, and I heard back from a product and application expert.

CIL Ask an Expert

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I was told that any 100% acrylic paint (like CIL Plus, available at RONA, which is a paint and primer all in one) would work well for the wallpaper, but the result would depend on the preparation. Firstly, I need to make sure the wallpaper is firmly adhered to the wall with no peeling corners or seams. The CIL experts also recommended that I seal the edges along the top and bottom (where the paper meets the trim) with a paint-able caulk to avoid any peeling in the future.

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For the faux wood panelling, The CIL experts suggested that joints will need to be filled with caulk as well prior to painting.  I was also advised that it’s a good idea to paint the seams of the panelling first as they are darker and more rough/absorbent than the rest of the wall.  So based on this advice I will need to paint one coat over the seams and a second coat over the entire wall for great results.

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Finally, the floor will be painted out white like the rest of the house.

To keep the light and airy feel throughout the home, I decided to stick with the white tones once again so I am able to add colour through accessories and decor items. I am also pretty sure that this bedroom will double as a studio space for Wonder Forest, so clean, crisp white walls are a must. 

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After deliberating over shades of white and asking for advice from the CIL expert, I decided to go with Romance 10BB 83/020, a cool toned white with a subtle grey undertone.

Visit www.cil.ca/ask-an-expert to receive personalized advice the CIL team of experts and check out #CILAskAnExpert to follow my journey. 

CIL_logoDisclosure: This post was brought to you by CIL paint via Mode Media Canada. The opinions expressed here are all my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support Wonder Forest

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By Dana Fox

Founder of the Wonder Forest blog and brand and bestselling author of the Watercolor With Me book series.

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