Step 1: Prepare the Paneling

• Wear safety glasses and older clothing in case of paint splattering. Protect your hands since you will be dealing with chemicals.

• Tape off the areas such as windows, ceilings, fireplaces with painter's tape. Remove switchplate covers from the walls.
  
  
• Clean the paneling with trisodium phosphate (TSP). Mix it with water following the instructions on the bottle. If the paneling is particularly shiny, you may need a deglosser as well. Luckily, you can buy products that include both TSP and a deglosser. This step is very important, because if you don't do a good job painting, the paint will never adhere to the panel surface.

Step 2: Fill in the Cracks and Apply the Primer

Apply an oil-based bonding primer to the paneling with an old brush or roller -- something you're willing to throw away, because the primer is quite difficult and messy to clean off. If your paneling is extra dark, use two coats of bonding primer. I recommend light-gray primer because just about any color can go on

Step 3: Apply the Paint

Step 4: Get Amazing Results

• Before
• After