If you are decorating your house with wood paneling, you may find it challenging. The old wood paneling is more and more often being updated with more contemporary decor. So, what colors go well with brown paneling?
Yellow, blue, green, and white are the top color options that suit the wood paneling. These colors will make your brown paneling appear modern and elegant.
Decorative wood-paneling can make a room look outdated if not done correctly. Keep reading for tips about decorating the brown paneling. This article includes some ideas for highlighting, hiding, or updating your brown paneled room.
What Is the Best Color for Brown Paneling?
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Brown paneling, once outdated, is starting to make a comeback. Modern design does not always incorporate it but instead allows it to remain in its original place.
The brown panels have a wide range of undertones, such as orange and yellow.
Adapting these into a modern decor scheme through design or paint has been the plan. In this article, you’ll learn how to do both simultaneously with complementary colors for an updated look.
White
White is the ideal neutral to brighten wood paneling. If trimmed with matching wood paneling, it may seem dreary and bland. Furthermore, if the paneling has an orange undertone, the room would seem too warm with so many warm tones.
White trim can refresh the look of wood panels and provide a cool contrast to oranges and yellows. Furthermore, a farmhouse-style design can be a great choice.
It is a classic combination to combine white with dark brown. In combination with a dark brown shade, a crisp, bright white color can easily enhance its visual appeal.
By balancing out the starkness of these neutral shades, the simplicity of each creates an attractive contrast. Traditional designs can also be accomplished by arranging white furnishings against dark brown walls.
Infusing the proper amount of drama to the space creates an ambiance of warmth and luxury. From traditional to contemporary and modern, this classic pair of chandeliers works for various interior design styles.
Asian-inspired spaces, notably those with Zen themes, commonly use this color scheme. You can implement the idea of adding white in conjunction with a dark brown wall through furniture, pillows, curtains, and bedding.
You can add some modern flair to this timeless color palette by using printed and patterned fabrics with the same color combination.
Green
Greens bring an earthy feeling to brown wood paneling when associated with natural colors. The result is that virtually any shade of green will look great with wood panels.
By adding greenery and accents of green to your home, you will truly embrace the outdoors. It is also a perfect pair with brown, although the lighter shades pair particularly well with a dark brown hue.
With this combination, you can easily transform into an organic environment that is both relaxed and welcoming. Among light greens, mint has the best dark brown shade.
You can balance the dark shades of chocolate brown easily with subtle shades of mint green. In combination, these restful styles can give any room a sense of sophistication, regardless of whether it belongs to a bedroom, a living room, a dining room, or a kitchen.
A mint-green accent wall will tone down a room with a lot of dark wood furniture or brown accents. Mint green is a soft, pastel hue that makes it seem like feminine color.
Combined with a dark shade of brown, it gives off an air of calm and freshness. This refreshing color combination is perfect for enhancing the look of any traditional space.
Blue
Rooms with brown paneling look beautiful when painted light blue. Having wood paneling in a room can make it feel dull and dark. Bright blues can add a youthful and cheerful vibe to such a room.
You can add sophistication to a paneled room by using royal blue and dark blue. It makes the room feel classier when combined with more decorative elements, such as rugs or pillows.
Its relaxing nature makes the color blue popular for use as a stress-relief tool. The color blue can create a relaxing ambiance in interior spaces when used.
Bedrooms and study rooms are good places for it because it has a calming effect. A light shade of blue also pairs very well with light browns.
With the warm undertones of brown, the cool blue tones are perfectly complementary. Brown can also be made easier on the eyes by mixing blue to tone down its heaviness.
By combining brown and blue, you can create stylish and modern spaces. Color schemes in blues and light browns are extremely versatile.
Whether traditional or modern, it can fit in both types of spaces, and you can apply it in an eclectic style to create a perfect balance of contemporary and classic.
You can use this color combination for either a girl’s or a boy’s bedroom since it is gender-neutral. Because blue is very calming, it will not overwhelm an infant’s senses and is ideal for nurseries.
Yellow
Browns and wooden finishes display warmer undertones when a yellow tone is added. Yellows can not only add a pop of color to brown, but they can also add a retro feel that fits the paneling’s origins.
There are many ways to incorporate yellow into your brown-paneled room, and a throw blanket is one of them. Brown’s complementary color is yellow, one of its brightest and most lively hues.
It creates a colorful, energetic, bright atmosphere in any room when combined with brown. It is fun and lively to decorate with bright yellow colors like canary, Tuscany, gold, and fire.
Yellow stands out very well in a neutral background like brown, although it is not as versatile as other colors. Bringing a unique color palette to a room with dominant browns can be achieved by using this accent color.
It also can combine the best of classic, traditional and modern styles. Depending on the shade of yellow paired with the light brown, it can look light or dark. In addition to bright yellows, goldenrod and ochre also make good combinations with light brown.
Can Wood Paneling Be Lightened?
Yes, you can lighten the wood paneling if you want. You may want to whitewash or bleach the wood to lighten the room rather than use decor to do it.
You should be careful with paint or bleach and protect the areas of the room that you do not desire to be painted or bleached. Open the windows and lay a drop cloth or tarp over the floor to ensure adequate ventilation.
Whitewashing wood paneling is going to be the easier option between these two. It will result in a brighter and more updated appearance while preserving the look of the paneling.
Paint may adhere better to the surface of a cheaper panel if the veneer coat is lightly sanded before painting it. If white paint is not adhering well, you might want to look for one that is also primer-based.
Sanding isn’t always necessary with so many different materials, styles, and finishes that can make paneling. To see how well the paint sticks without sanding, you can always paint a small test panel.
If you sanded the paneling, you would need to clean it and remove any dust. You should also include any trim that you intend to paint. In this case, you should mix water and white paint 1:1.
To combine white paint and water, use one gallon of water per gallon of white paint. Painting the paneling can be done after the paint is mixed. Whitewashing is meant not totally to cover the original wood, but almost appears to be peeking out.
As soon as it dries, decide whether a second coat is necessary or if you are satisfied with the result. Besides, you can also make your wood paneling look elegant even without painting.
Sometimes a coat of stain can liven up wood paneling that looks dingy or dull. It is possible to make the wood paneling look brand new by adding a deeper stain.
Further, focus attention on a few key pieces of furniture instead of the paneling. The eye will be drawn to your furniture pieces by bright colors and interesting textures. You can also use a SLEERWAY velvet couch for this purpose.
If you don’t like the wood paneling, you can use this to distract from it, or you may want to highlight the walls’ classic appearance. Cover up older wood paneling with art and wall hangings as an alternative.
Mixed-size prints in gallery walls will limit wall paneling showing and provide the room with a focal point. A rug, blanket, or throw pillow is a great addition to a room with wood paneling. Bringing life into a room can be done with vibrant and detailed rugs instead of boring paneling.
A steady comeback is occurring among wood paneling, even though its popularity peaked decades ago. To get the best outcome, think about which colors will complement your wood paneling before removing it or painting over it.
