DIY Transformation of Wood Tongue-and-Groove Paneled Walls
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We recently transformed an awkward little nook in our living room into a functional and beautiful office space. We built a custom hutch and I paired it with a vintage desk, giving this corner the perfect balance of form and function.
>> Small Office Nook Makeover: Custom DIY Hutch Build for a Vintage Desk <<
But while working on the hutch, I realized the walls themselves needed just as much attention.
The vertical tongue-and-groove paneling (also known as car siding) had never truly felt in line with the classic style I’m naturally drawn to, and this project became the push I needed to finally address it.
What started as a small nook update quickly grew into a larger project—smoothing the paneling throughout our living room and hallway as well.
Keep reading to discover why I made this change, how I approached the process, and whether it’s a project I’d suggest for your own home. And don’t miss my one-year follow-up at the end, where I share how the walls have held up, and most importantly if I still recommend this project!
Why I Decided to Change the Walls.
The walls in our living room and hallway have always featured vertical tongue-and-groove paneling. While charming in certain styles, I’ve never loved it in our home, mainly because the seams constantly crack despite repeated attempts to fill them, leaving the walls looking messy and dated. Still, over the years we have prioritized other projects, so the paneling remained.
By the time I began the hutch project, however, it was clear the walls were holding the space back. Zach and I both love classic, more traditional style interiors and we have been slowly weaving more of this charm into our home. Most recently, I have been dreaming about adding picture frame molding throughout our home. Unfortunately, the vertical lines of the paneling clashed with that vision entirely.
Simply put, it was time for an update. Since ripping everything out and drywalling the entire space wasn’t in the budget at the time, I set out to find a creative alternative to give the paneling a smoother, more refined look.
How I Transformed Our Walls Using Joint Compound.
Materials Used.
Slightly damp cloth
(optional) Simply White by Benjamin Moore in Eggshell finish
The Process.
Here’s the simple process I followed to give our paneled walls a smooth, drywall-like look using joint compound:
Dip your joint knife into the compound and load it generously.
Press the compound firmly into each vertical seam to fill it.
Scrape off the excess with the knife and carry it to the next section. Finish one full seam top to bottom before moving on.
Work seam by seam until the wall is complete. Let dry 24 hours.
Second and third applications: Apply two additional coats the same way (three total), allowing 24 hours of dry time between coats to help prevent cracking.
After the third coat dries, use a sanding block to smooth the surface. Check from multiple angles and feather out any ridges until the wall feels uniformly smooth.
Wipe down with a slightly damp cloth to remove all dust.
Now your walls are ready for paint.
(I chose to do two coats of Simply White by Benjamin Moore in Eggshell finish)
Is This DIY Worth It? My Honest Take.
Overall, the process of this DIY was fairly straightforward, but the execution turned into a major undertaking given the size of the areas in our home with tongue-and-groove paneling.
At first, the results looked great and the project felt like a budget-friendly alternative to new drywall. Unfortunately, the reality is that the transformation was very short lived.
A few months later, when warmer temperatures came, cracks began to form in the joint compound along several seams, forcing us to do touch-up work. I had hoped that applying three coats would be enough to keep everything intact, but it proved no match for the natural expansion and contraction of the house as temperatures shifted.
One Year Later: March 2025 Update.
After just one year (March 2025), I can honestly say this is one DIY I deeply regret. We experienced continued cracking in multiple seams, despite touch-up work. In some stretches, the seams even bulged outward, leaving noticeable ridges along the wall. These imperfections appeared in multiple places, requiring literally endless touch-ups. Even with repairs some seams never looked fully smooth or flush again.
What started as a cost-saving solution became an ongoing frustration. The initial savings were completely outweighed by the time, effort, and disappointment—so much so that I almost took this post down entirely. But, I do think it’s worth sharing the projects that don’t work out if it saves someone else time and money.
This is one project I would never repeat again and one I absolutely cannot recommend.
→ Key takeaway on how to transform wood tongue-and-groove walls if they don’t fit your design style? Rip them out and just hang drywall. Period.
MORE DIY PROJECTS →
Hi, I’m Casey, founder of Refuge Interiors, where I combine my lifelong love of decorating and design with a passion for sourcing vintage and antique treasures to create classic, collected interiors that feel warm, inviting, and beautifully lived in.
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