Read this post for some tips on how to paint beadboard paneling white for a fresh, modern look.
When I moved into my house, the master bathroom already had brown beadboard going about halfway up the walls. It always bothered me because it was just so. much. brown.
As I was refinishing the baseboards in my house, I decided I would paint this beadboard the same white color. My husband argued it would be too much white, but I could see the vision of how good it would look against the cool gray walls and black countertop.
Step 1: Prep the Surface
I started this project by first cleaning off the beadboard. Using a damp cloth with just a tiny bit of Dawn soap, I scrubbed it down. Once that was dry, I filled any noticeable holes or cracks with wood filler. I find the easiest way to do this is to use wood filler that comes in a squeeze tube like this one and apply it with your finger.
Then I put painter’s tape along the edges. You can see from the photo below that I was also painting the baseboards and trim all the same color.
Step 2: Primer
First, I painted one coat of primer. I am glad that I did because the brown was pretty dark and still needed several coats of paint to get it to the full white color.
I used both a paint brush and a foam roller for this project. Use a nice, soft paint brush recommended for the type of paint you are using. I also think a foam roller applies the paint more smoothly than a traditional roller.
The technique I developed was using the paint brush on the edges and in between each line and then going over the whole surface with a foam roller before the paint dried. Therefore, I would move across the wall, doing a few panels at a time.
TIP: Spend the time to paint in between every line with the primer and first coat of paint. Use a generous amount of paint and go up and down the lines in between each panel. If you do this well, then you can just roll on your final coat.
After the primer dries, look again for any areas that may need some wood filler. I found that the primer really made these imperfections stand out, so I filled a lot more holes and cracks at this point than I did at the beginning. Make sure to sand down then wipe clean any areas you apply the filler before continuing on.
Step 3: Paint
Now it is time to apply your paint color of choice. I used Behr Ultra Pure White which is also the same color I used to refinish all of the baseboards and interior doors in my house.
I used the same painting method described above using both a paint brush and roller. My beadboard required a total of 3 coats to get to the full, bright white color. The baseboards and top trim only needed two coats.
The first couple of coats definitely took the longest because I paid extra close attention to painting in all of the panel lines. This allowed the last coat to go much faster as I only needed to use the roller (and brush for the top and bottom edges where the roller didn’t reach).
The most annoying part about this project was having to paint behind the toilet. I reached as far as I could behind it in all directions but there was still some space that I could not reach. This really bothered me but once the project was done, I realized there is absolutely no way anyone would be able to tell unless they literally pressed their face against the wall behind the toilet. And honestly even doing that you can barely tell.
Once you are satisfied with your last coat of paint, allow it to dry and remove the painter’s tape. Then sit back and marvel at your work!
I was AMAZED by how much this simple paint project totally transformed the look of my bathroom! Painting the beadboard paneling white really made the whole room look so much brighter and bigger.
View this post to see how I updated the interior doors to match.
Next up on my list is to refinish the bathroom vanity cabinets. Stay tuned for that step-by-step tutorial!