Painting Wooden Ceilings and Wall Panelings: How to Beautify Old Wood Panels

10 min reading time

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Until the 1980s, panelled ceilings were modern. Unfortunately, they no longer fit in with our modern interpretation of cosiness. Most of the time, the softwood of these ceilings develops an unattractive yellow tinge over the years. Or it is stained dark from the start and then the ceiling literally presses down on your head from above. Sometimes the panels are also made of plastic, which looks old-fashioned and oppressive. Fortunately, ceilings and wall panelling can be painted quite easily. Then they look really chic in no time at all.

1. Before/After sample photos of painted or lacquered wood ceilings
2. Choosing the right colour for your wooden ceiling
3. Step-by-step guide: How to paint and varnish ceiling panels properly
4. Frequently asked questions about painting wood ceilings and wall panels
5. Video: MissPompadour Campus: Painting Ceiling Beams Project
6. You still need these accessories

Choosing the Perfect Colour for Your Wooden Ceiling

How often do you find yourself wanting to paint your wooden ceiling white? But then the questions start! For starters, not all whites are created equal – as anyone who’s browsed our site will know instantly. And for another, many people struggle to believe it’s that simple to transform a brown or dark wood ceiling to a beautiful white. We’ve broken down exactly what you need to consider and the best way to go about it in our guide!

You might be wondering if you can really paint over a brown or dark wooden ceiling. Yes, you absolutely can with our wood lacquer!

White and other light colours are often a fantastic choice for ceilings, as they tend to make rooms feel larger and more spacious. This is a real bonus in narrow hallways, rooms with low ceilings, and smaller spaces.

Things to keep in mind when painting your ceiling white: If you're aiming for a white wooden ceiling, using a primer is also key here. However, our lacquers are designed to cover dark surfaces too. Just remember, when painting from a dark shade to a lighter one, you should generally expect to apply more coats than usual!

Before/after photos of painted or varnished wooden ceilings and wall panels

Why should you paint your wooden panels? If you want to remove wooden ceilings or wall panels, this often means a lot of dirt, work and perhaps even nasty surprises. With a coat of paint, you can make your ceiling and wall panels stand out visually or create a completely individualised eye-catcher. And who doesn't like to change their walls from time to time, whether plastered or with panels? Take a look at how our customers have transformed their rooms and let yourself be inspired!

Step-by-step guide: How to paint and varnish ceiling panels correctly

Step 1: Choose your shade

When painting your wooden ceiling and wall panels, you can use pretty much any paint quality, regardless of the material. If you're after a silky matt look, opt for our Easy Eggshell! For a completely matt finish, we recommend our CosyColours chalk paint or our soft LittlePomp chalk paint. You can also use wall paints, for instance, to match your ceiling to your walls. Choose MissPompadour - The Valuable Wall Paint! or the chalk paints from LittlePomp. If you can't quite decide on the perfect white, it's best to order the colour charts!

Step 2: Prepare the surface

Lightly sand down any imperfections or scratches on your panelling using fine-grit sandpaper. Then, fill any holes with To Fill - MissPompadour filler. You can also use this to cover knots, preventing them from showing as dark stains through your paint.

Step 3: Clean the wooden ceiling or wall panels

Thoroughly clean the surfaces to prepare them for painting. Vacuum away any dust first. Then, use To Clean - MissPompadour cleaner and lukewarm water to degrease the surfaces. Wipe down with clean water afterwards. It's crucial that the surface is free from dust and grease. Allow everything to dry completely before painting.

Step 4: Prime the surfaces

Wood: If you have natural wooden ceiling or wall panelling, you should prime it with To Bond & Block - MissPompadour primer. With real wood, there's always a risk that tannins or resins will leach through and create stains in your new light-coloured paint. This step is especially important if you plan to paint your wooden ceiling white. When using our primers, always ensure you use clean tools. Allow the primer to dry for 8 hours or preferably overnight.

Plastic:
If you anticipate heavy wear, prime plastic panelling or already painted surfaces with a thick coat of To Bond & Block for improved paint adhesion. You can likely skip this step for ceilings, as they aren't subjected to much wear. For plastic wall panels, it's safer to prime if you intend to use our wall paints.

Step 5: Paint the surfaces

Now, apply your chosen shade. Apply as many coats of paint as needed until you achieve your desired finish. The result is usually opaque after 2-3 coats, but a second coat is always recommended. Allow each coat to dry for 4-6 hours. The paint coats become more durable each day – after about 14 days, they reach their full resilient stability. If you're painting tongue and groove boards, you can easily pre-paint the grooves (the joints) with our fine MissPompadour brush, for example, a 50mm brush. You can then paint the main surfaces with the paint roller for water-based paints.

Step 6: Seal wall panels

You don't need to seal ceilings, as they rarely experience manual wear. For wall panels, you can use To Seal - MissPompadour sealant to create an even more robust finish. This is particularly advisable if you've used our wall paints and depending on the level of wear the panels will experience. Apply the sealant after the paint has dried for 24 hours.

Video: MissPompadour Campus: Project Painting Ceiling Beams

Frequently asked questions about painting wall panels and wooden ceilings

1. Things to know about preparation

Do I have to sand the wood before painting?

Basic sanding is not necessary. Only if parts of an old coating on the wooden panels come off should they be sanded smooth.

Do I need to prime the ceiling or wall panels?

For real wood panels, use MissPompadour To Bond & Block as a primer to ensure that the wood does not release any discolouration into the new paint. This is particularly important for oak, tropical and softwoods, as these tend to release tannins. Stained and glazed woods can also discolour your paint.
For smooth plastic surfaces, you should use MissPompadour To Bond & Block as a primer. The colour then adheres better to the surface and the surface is perfectly prepared for painting.

How do I determine the right amount of paint?

Next to each colour shade in our shop you will find the practical quantity calculator. Simply enter the square metres to be painted and you will get the estimated consumption for two coats.

Can you paint a wooden ceiling with wall paint?

Yes, you can paint wooden ceilings not only with varnish but also with wall paints. You can sand the wood first so that it absorbs the paint better. Especially if you want the ceiling to blend into the background, you can use wall paints to adapt the look of the ceiling to that of the walls.

Do I need to seal the ceiling or wall panels?

If you want to paint your wooden ceiling, you can save yourself the topcoat here. Ceiling panels are not usually exposed to heavy loads, so a topcoat is not necessary.

Wall panelling, however, can be exposed to heavy loads, depending on the location. Our varnish qualities are already very robust in themselves, even without topcoat. However, if you expect heavy loads, you can play it safe with MissPompadour To Seal. If you have chosen a wall paint for your wall panels, you can make them more robust and easier to maintain with To Seal.

2. Painting overhead made easy

How do I paint without dripping?

Our colours and varnishes are all sufficiently thick and do not tend to drip. Depending on the painting technique, this can still happen. We recommend that you do not dip the brush completely into the paint, but only about ⅔ of the bristles. Then the paint is really spread and does not drip down the brush. Never place the roller in the paint tray with the handle in the paint, otherwise the paint can drip off the handle. Please still protect your floor and furniture with plastic drop cloth, painter's fleece or paper

Which roller do I need to paint the wooden ceiling?

Most wood panelling - and also that made of plastic - has grooves, i. e. small indentations. These can be pre-painted very well with our fine MissPompadour brushn. Then use the varnish roller for the surface.

Can I also spray the paint?

Let's face it – painting a wooden ceiling can be exhausting. So, if you're planning to paint your ceiling panels, you can significantly speed up the process by using a paint spray system. Dilute the paint with water as per the instructions on the technical data sheet. It's best to practise on a test piece or an inconspicuous area first. You'll get the hang of it in no time.

3. Special features

Can coated panels and ceiling laminate be painted?

Yes, you can actually do that very well. You can simply paint the ceiling with the colour of your choice. If you prime it with MissPompadour To Bond & Block, you'll make the first coat a little easier. The colour can then be painted more evenly on the smooth surface. You should always primeplastic panels on walls, as they are usually exposed to much higher loads than the ceiling. The paint then adheres better and the first coat can also be painted better for a beautiful result.

How can I preserve the wood grain but still lighten the ceiling?

If you like the look, but your wooden ceiling is too dark and oppressive overall, you can also finish it with a white wax. The more coats you apply, the brighter and more opaque it becomes. Make sure to spread the Wax evenly.

You can also use the MissPompadour To Stain wood stain to give your wooden ceiling a new shine without covering the wood grain. Apply the Stain thinly and evenly. The more coats of paint you paint, the stronger the colour shade will be.

You still need these tool products

Of course, there are a few more tools and supplies you 'll need to have on hand when painting wood!

Cleaning cloths and buckets: to thoroughly clean the surfaces first: The surface must be free of dust and grease for your paint to hold well.
Sandpaper or sanding pad: For all areas where old varnish has flaked off. These should first be sanded smooth with a fine grit.
Masking tape for masking: Always remove the masking tape when the paint is not yet dry to ensure a clean edge.
plastic drop cloth, painter's fleece or newspaper: To protect your floor and furniture.
Brush, varnish roller and paint tray: It is best to pour the varnish into the paint tray. Paint corners, edges and recesses with the brush and the surfaces with the varnish roller.
Ladder or small work platform: to make it easier to reach the ceiling.