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    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!

    August 17, 2016 by Ashley Mayes 18 Comments

    Happy hump day! Greyson, our little man, started school today. I'm equal parts happy and sad. I'd love to be one of those schools who have a nontraditional schedule. Like they go, 8 weeks on and then have two weeks off and do that all year around. Maybe, eventually we will have that; or maybe I'm dreaming. Ha. Anyways, today, I want to share a tutorial for How To Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s! 

    How to install paneling

    Do you hate paneling? I'm totally on the fence. I definitely think it can, and usually does, look dated. However, I think it can add a certain type of warmth or charm to a space as well. We have it in our playroom/office/library/whatever room and I don't hate it. I'm not sure it's going to stay but I'm open to the possibility of it. So, I'd say I definitely don't hate paneling on sight but I'm not gungho about putting paneling in either.

    For this project, paneling definitely was the way to go. It's inexpensive, easy to install and forgiving with rooms or spaces that aren't quite square. So, if you have a room or space that you don't want to invest the time/effort to install drywall in... I'd recommend thinking about paneling. Ready to get to the tutorial?

    How to install paneling

    First things first, measure your space. You need to estimate your materials and how much you will need.

    I desperately wanted the walls white and I *might* have put my foot down on this part. To keep things easy, we bought white paneling (kinda like beadboard) but weren't thrilled with how it installed. We got in installed on one wall and just thought it looked crappy. So, all of that went back to the store.

    We ended up getting wood paneling. The quality of the wood paneling is so much nicer (but so is the price). So, just think about where you are planning to install the paneling and what you want the look to be before you go to buy it.

    The next thing we did was measure the studs on each wall. I wrote them down for every wall so that we knew where to nail the paneling in to.
    How to install paneling

    Once you know where your studs are, you need to cut off the lip to the starting board (see the lip below).

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-6

    We used a jigsaw to cut it off.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-6

    Next you need to measure where your "extra" cuts need to be. We had a window, an electrical outlet and cross beam that needed to be accounted for on our first plywood panel. So, for this, we measured out where each issue (outlet, beam, window) would be and made marks on the back of the paneling where the cuts needed to be.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-6

    For smaller cutouts, use a drillbit to get your cut started before using the jigsaw.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-6

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-6

    Push against the wall to see if you have a good fit.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-6

    In the picture above, the fit was too tight on the beam. The paneling couldn't be pushed against the wall on the right bottom side. So, we had to pull it down and take a bit more off the top where the beam hit.

    Once you have a good fit, use an air compressor and a nail gun to nail the board in. We used 2" nails.

    After nailing the paneling in, go to your next board. You do not need to cut off the lip on this board because the lip will sit on the paneling that you just put in.

    Measure and cut as needed.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-6

    Keep this up until you have completed the walls.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-15

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-16

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-18

    As you can see, our wall height was taller than the paneling. We came back with a second row above the first. The seam in the photos doesn't look the best, but trust me... we have plans to help it blend.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-1-3

    Everything got primed and painted.

    How to Install Paneling Without It Looking Like the 1970s!-1-2

    All in all, this part of the project took awhile. There were quite a few cuts and especially at the top part (where we had to angle our cuts) it took some time. I'd say this is a beginner type project but it is a bit intense on time involvement. So, what do you think? It's definitely paneling but it still looks bright and fresh, right?

    Here's the other cabin posts in case you missed one!

    Planning a Cabin Renovation

    Cabin Demolition

    Building Walls and Finishing the Ceiling

    Design Plan

    Extending the Roof To Help With Water Control

    DIY Triangle Mirror

    Quick and Easy Laminate Flooring

    More Cabin

    • cabin addition and design
      Cabin Design Plans
    • Simple, Rustic and Modern Cabin Reveal
      Simple, Rustic and Modern Cabin Renovation
    • Rustic bench modern bench DIY bench hairpin legs
      Rustic Modern DIY Wood Bench with Hairpin Legs
    • installing trim using rough cedar
      Installing Trim (Baseboards, windows, door, walls and ceilings) at the Cabin

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    About Ashley Mayes

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    1. cassie @ primitive & proper

      August 17, 2016 at 7:58 am

      that looks awesome, ashley!

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        August 27, 2016 at 11:57 am

        Thanks Cassie!

        Reply
    2. Suzanne

      August 18, 2016 at 7:29 am

      Love your site....the green door in the cabin....could you please tell me the mfg. amd if it came in that color?
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        August 27, 2016 at 11:57 am

        Oh, I have no idea! They are original to the cabin.

        Reply
    3. Julia@Cuckoo4Design

      August 21, 2016 at 8:03 pm

      I love how it looks

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        August 27, 2016 at 11:58 am

        Thanks Julia!

        Reply
    4. PENNY KING @ Massage Device

      August 26, 2016 at 8:24 am

      Wow what a great idea
      Panel is common, cheap and easy to install and forgiving. So, I don’t have to invest the time and effort to install drywall in my warehouse
      It also make the room look so vintage and elegant. I love it and will try it
      Hope it not too hard to do

      Thanks for your tutorial

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        August 27, 2016 at 11:59 am

        Glad you like it!

        Reply
    5. john morrison

      August 29, 2016 at 7:58 am

      IF I WAS GOING TO PAINT IT WHITE ,I THINK 1/2 INCH GYPSUM WALLBOARD WOULD LOOK JUST AS NICE AND STRONGER.
      I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE BETWEEN WALLBOARD AND PANNING.
      I KNOW IT ISN'T MY HOUSE, ITS YOURS, AND IT CAME OUT NICE.
      MY MAIN QUESTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT IS THIS ROOM GOING TO BE USED FOR?

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        September 07, 2016 at 9:50 am

        Thanks John! It's a small cabin on a lake. It's used for quick overnights and weekend stays.

        Reply
    6. jennifer

      September 01, 2016 at 8:27 am

      love so much, the room seem bigger with panel white bút with me its a mighty progress, wall s too tall but im too short. need helping, so sad

      Reply
    7. Thompson

      January 07, 2017 at 8:37 pm

      I really love how it turns out but is this really less time consuming than going for a drywall?

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        January 11, 2017 at 7:21 am

        It really wasn't bad and it was the look that we were going for. BUT, that might just be my opinion because sanding drywall is like the worst job ever. ha.

        Reply
    8. Tanesha F. Lambert

      February 17, 2017 at 9:50 am

      Oh wow, good job. This is definitely something i'm forwarding to my husband. He could use a brush-up on how to install paneling properly 😀

      Reply
    9. Jill Roberts @ Wellness Geeky

      July 13, 2017 at 12:36 pm

      That is look amazing, 1990sh!!! 🙂 JK. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        July 17, 2017 at 8:07 am

        Haha! Thanks Jill!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. The Creative Gallery :: 195 - Bigger Than the Three of Us says:
      August 28, 2016 at 8:01 pm

      […] Paneling in the Cabin […]

      Reply
    2. Planning a Cabin Renovation - Bigger Than the Three of Us says:
      September 6, 2016 at 9:54 am

      […] Installing Paneling without it looking like the 70s! […]

      Reply

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