Dealing with wood paneling overload

Q: What can I do to reduce the amount of tacky wood paneling in our cottage? The ceiling and walls are all covered in the same fake wood grain and it’s way too much. We’ve thought of drywall, but the place isn’t heated in the winter and I’m afraid of cracks developing. Any suggestions?

A: There are a few things you can do, including the installation of drywall. I’ve seen a number of seasonal cottages with drywall, and cracking hasn’t been a problem with any of them. Perhaps the easiest option is to paint the paneling white. This effects an amazing transformation and it’s easy to do. I’d use a 100% acrylic latex paint in a flat sheen applied with a roller. Try this first and if it’s not to your liking you can always apply drywall over top.