How to Paint Over Bathroom Paneling

Clean the paneling in your bathroom before you begin the painting process. Use basic soap and water, and scrub the paneling with a sponge or scrubber. This removes any built-up grime or dirt that has accrued over time. Once you are finished cleaning, wait for the paneling to dry.

Roughen the paneling with 180-grit sandpaper. Rub the sandpaper over all of the paneling until the surface is dull. This creates a better surface for your primer paint and allows your final coat of paint to stick best to the paneling.

Remove any excess dust created by the sandpaper with a damp washcloth.

Prime the bathroom paneling with a 100% acrylic primer. This type of primer sticks best to paneling. Paint the primer onto the paneling as you would a typical coat of paint. A paint roller works best on paneling.

Wait for the primer to dry completely. Typically, 24 hours is enough time.

Repeat the primer painting process with the paint of your choice.