Thanks oklouise - unfortunately it is a really small space so no room for palms or the like, but it will be styled before going on the market so there will definitely be some art work etc. We really just need to do something with the paneling as there are large sections of lacquer that are peeling off & it really lets down the rest of the house, so it's really a question of retain the character or modernise?

Also on another note - does anyone know how to see the outcome of the poll? It says there are 4 votes but the link doesn't work for me to be able to see which way people have voted?

Thank's Byron. We've got gorgeous ceiling roses & cornices in 3 of the 4 original rooms & the original floorboards, but other than that, pretty much everything else original had already gone...

ok so i have seen them painted and not painted ,my friend painted hers white as she had a huge and long hall ,and i must admit i loved the paneling but seeing it painted lifted the whole feel it was fabulous ,these older style paneling are just being melded in with the newer style of the rest of the house , and you also should consider can you live with it lol ,so my advise paint

Hi Rebecca, As your selling this property I would not paint it, Leave it for the new owners to decide. I would maybe hang a mirror, add a light floor rug to soften, some greenery if you have the space and maybe rub in some furniture oil to freshen if there are any scratches on the wall. Good luck

Paint paint paint

Much as I too would value the original panelling and want to see it restored, I understand your quandary. I would have to divorce myself from the situation and view it strictly in terms of a business decision...and paint over it.

However, if a person didn't mind spending the money, I'd get a quote on replacing the front door with one that allows much more light inside, installation of a solar skylight AND for repair and refinish of the panelling. Then weigh that up after speaking with a really good and experienced realtor in your area.

I find that panelling very dark and on the dingy side as maybe a prospective buyer might you could either paint over it or make the bottom half timber put a chair rail or dado to half the area and paint above the dado part of the wall that way you leave the option for any prospective buyer to either leave it or restore it all back I think for the purpose of sale the whole area needs to be lightened up, the skylight is a good idea and a door that lets through light also but the timber is quite dark and I feel with the trend today would only appeal to certain buyers you need to maximize you buyers so that you get a good return for your home. I know it is in keeping with what you explained to have the timber hence my idea of dado walls in that area it gives options while keeping the home in style with the cornices etc. Good luck

I am also against painting natural timber. If this is a single story house the perfect (stress free - done in a day) solution to brightening up this space would be to add a Solar Tube type solution - a dome on the external room connected to the hall way via a silver tube which will flood the area with bright natural light. You won't believe the look until you have seen it for your self. Also some white toned art work will do wonders.

Maybe you'd consider applying a removable wallpaper? That way the deteriorating veneer is hidden but makes the choice to repair or paint an easier one for the new owner. Much cleaner for you too than painting.

Hi Rebecca.... the rest of the house has been modernised so I'd happily paint over that dreary timber, the past will still be there but the lighter brighter hallway will tie in with the rest of the house. The overall feel of the house could make you reconsider selling! ;-)

I think it would look fabulous painted. I am not a fan of keeping "dark" just because it was original

Rebecca - try oiling the timber and see if this brings it up. Rub it in with some steel wool and it can do wonders to bring life into the timber again and it is quite quick to do. The worry with painting is once that is done, you can't go back.

I'm assuming you live in an area of similar homes so for selling purposes, I would check out all homes currently on the market in your immediate area, go to open house days, see how they have been renovated and gauge potential buyer's response to them, ask questions as to just what they are looking for in a home. Agents will help you with this too. I spent a year doing this before I sold my home and learned a lot from it. There are just as many people out there who want to put their own stamp on a home as there are those with no vision who just want everything pretty.

Your front door, while it doesn't allow much light, could well be a significant heritage piece for the home so a solar tube or 2 could be the answer to bringing light into the space. Colourful artwork on the walls will then help detract from all the panelling too.

Good luck with it all.

If I was a potential buyer I would love to see the original wood. Give the timber a bit of love as suggested by @olldroo and as others have also suggested add a solar tube to bring in more light. The front door is gorgeous! A good stylist will do amazing things with the right props and furniture to suit your home for selling. Best of luck! .... my vote is no.

Rather than paint - what appears to be very pretty detail.... perhaps change the front door to an ornate leadlight panel door to allow more light in..... presumably when you house is open for inspection, your front door will be open??? ( I am a sucker for features such as a period front door) - the first thing I would do if I bought your home is strip the beautiful woodwork! .... perhaps seek the advice of an electrician not a painter.

Please don't paint!!!!

I would not paint. I think the area does need a lift, but what would provide this without trying to change the character of the space would be something with brightness or sparkle such as a light fitting with pinpoint LED and cut glass sparkle or a cut glass mirror, or both. This could be in keeping with the character of the house.

I don't know how you can even consider painting the panels? It would kill the character of the place straight away. Any interested buyer for a house of the period could be turned off immediately and will walk away because the damage is done, someone else who won't care will create their own solution for the desired design anyway, so why bother wasting the money on a paint job. A compromise could be hiring a professional polisher who can give the dull timber surface a new life by applying one or two coats of a hard wearing industrial wax, you won't believe what a nice shine they get out of it. After that you might upgrade your artificial light sources(invest in a chandelier out of the period) and you have impressed at least the buyer who are fully into this style of house, the others as I said will pull out the panels and replaster the walls, take care and good luck!

You can't second guess what the ultimate buyer will like. They are as likely to think it is a travesty that you painted timber panelling as thinking it dark and dingy. In that case it is better to do as little as possible. Give the timber a bit of TLC, as per Maree's advice, and a solartube like Bernadette suggested (if there is no upper floor) would do wonders for this entry.

I voted - leave. If I was to live there I personally would paint it as I prefer lighter and I love white. My mother would NEVER paint wood, just nurture it.

Leave it to the next buyer to decide so that they don't walk into your house and think look at all the work to strip it back. Even painting over it will take some effort to prep it before you paint.... that will be a huge job.

Leave the light on (change to brighter cool light/day light bulb) when buyers come through or keep the door open.

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions.

I absolutely did not want to paint over the paneling - it would break my heart to do so - and was only something I had considered after having so many visitors to my home suggest it.

I am now satisfied from the number of responses here that it isn't an overwhelming majority that would prefer it painted, so I have started the process of restoring yesterday afternoon.

I won't be changing the front door as it is incredibly unique & original - it is actually one of my favourite things about the house - and being south facing & under a porch the increase in glass would not result in much of an increase in light to the area anyway.

But I will definitely look into the option of a solartube & shall be taking on board all of your styling suggestions :)