Oak panelling and parquet floors

[SEtwins]

Hi all, after years of living in a tiny flat, we are about to move into a house. Our flat is a warehouse conversion that we bought off the developer so we barely had to do any work to it. I’m a complete house decorating novice so looking for any inspiration/tips from others.

The house has solid oak wall panelling in the hallway and oak parquet flooring as well. Have tried to attach a photo here. To me, the colour scheme of brown on brown looks very 80s corporate and I think it might be nice to have the walls and/or the floor painted a different colour. Any ideas of what might work well? Thank you!

Oh Blimey! I think it’s lush! Love it!

I think it will offer a fabulous backdrop to any colours you decide to put in the space. I wouldn’t be in too much of a rush to paint it out!

Might you not just introduce what you want on other walls and in furnishings, textiles, rugs and other accessories?

🌈

It's gorgeous! I would paint the panelling and sand and stain the flooring. You're so lucky.

What age is the house? Please don’t paint it because it’ll be such a struggle to return it to it’s original state!

I wouldn’t paint that. Could you hang picture hooks and large colourful paintings (light colours) off that panelling? Maybe a rug on the floor, I would try those things first. You can also modernise with green plants etc

That's gorgeous, I also wouldn't pain anything but would accentuate how naturally rich those colours are with pops of other colours and plants. It looks incredible, I hope you enjoy it!

I would definitely not paint it - that would reduce value because it would be very hard to remove the paint & get it back to the original state.

lots of colourful rugs and pictures / furniture can make it look much more modern.

I think Instagram and Pinterest are your friend here.
Flooring I'd leave.
The panelling I MIGHT paint in a dark colour say, green or blue and take it right up the walls and over the ceiling.
Hide the radiator with a cover or change for one that doesn't stick out quite so much.

What is that white thing above it? Electrical cupboard? - hide it so it matches the panelling.
I can't make out what's in the corner -is it a brick clock/fireplace? Remove/change/box these in.
Statement/period light fitting.
Then some sort of statement bright wow factor chair/chaise
Do you need somewhere for coats and shoes?

That doesn't look 80s at all.

Looks Arts and Crafts to me. If you have to do anything to it, painting the panels is the most I would do, but honestly I think they look gorgeous as is, very stylish.

Maybe you could do some research on Edwardian/Artsand Crafts interiors and style to change your minset so you can appreciate them more.

The floor would cost a fortune if you were putting it in. Painting it is sacrilege. Saying that I spent a lot sanding & sealing my parquet, so I've put loose lay carpet over mine, to protect it.

You're buying a house valued on its original features. You can do whatever you want but...

Nooooo! Don't paint it!

As others have said, add colour with accessories etc. Maybe a striped runner on the stairs...

Never ever ever paint that floor. It’s gorgeous and would cost a fortune to install. I am slightly less keen on the walls and I’ve seen nice results giving them a light sand and painting with a lighting colour in a chalky finish like farrow and ball.

Step away from the parquet!

Big plants, mirrors, rugs, paintings, wall hangings etc could make such a difference to the vibe.

By the time you get some belongings in there, you’ll never notice.

Don't paint it!
We've got oak panelling and had it stripped and french polished. Expensive but really worth it. It looks fab and doesn't date.

You will regret painting it - it'll just look like any other wall and you'll never be able to go back to the original.

Fabulous!

I missed out on a property with panelling and parquet flooring, always regretted it.

Please dont paint/strip either, some carefully placed items and rug runner on the stairs will be fantastic, I have hall envy!

I wouldn’t paint it, but break it up with a rug and a stair runner.
Think about what other colours you will use in the rest of house, find a colour that links them all.

Another one saying don't paint it!

We have a panelled dining room from the 1920s and it was one of the reasons we loved & bought the house - original features should be kept original! We gave the room an Arts & Crafts vibe to fit in.

If you paint it you run the risk of it looking like modern repro panelling that somone has bought and stuck up & painted. Which is fine if that's what it is - it's a good look - but if you have the original then that's a bonus.

That is the hallway of my DREAMS.

Oh gosh don’t paint original oak panelling!! (which it looks to be)

I agree with hanging some large pictures from the picture rail at the top of the panelling, and a rug. these will break up the expanse of wood.

Also I presume the wooden clock and chest of drawers are not yours and will change? Something painted there (maybe a dark blue or green) would look good. A modern slightly 1930s light fitting would look great too.

Finally the stair carpet could be changed to something non brown to create more contrast but that won’t be a cheap job especially with those lovely curved steps. A runner on the stairs could look wonderful.

Thank you all for the great ideas - will investigate.