Freshening up old wood paneling with a coat of paint is 1 way to bring more light into your house, and you can do this with just about any type of latex wall paint. The choice of primer you apply under the paint is more important than the choice of paint.
Choosing the Primer
After washing your own paneling and scuff-sanding it — if it has a complete — you must apply a coat of stain-blocking primer. Water-based primer works well for strong paneling with a finish, but in the event the paneling is unfinished or contains a veneer, you should use shellac-based primer. This type of primer won’t raise wood grain or lift veneer; it blocks natural wood tannins; and it provides excellent adhesion for your topcoat.
Choosing the Topcoat
Your choice of topcoat depends more on your own personal preferences than it does on the paneling, since any kind of paint adheres well to your properly primed wall, such as latex-petroleum- and clay-based paint. Use a low- to no-VOC product if you are sensitive to odors. Avoid flat paint if the wall is subject to frequent contact; gloss or semi-gloss paints are both easier to clean.