Yesterday, I conducted a Fridley Community Education program on staging and two women wanted to know what I thought of wood paneling. They both said their husbands loved the paneling and thought that men coming in to buy their home would feel the same. Wrong!  Young men are no more likely to likely old paneling than they are to like their dad’s seersucker suits or white dress shoes.  Dated is dated. Unfortunately for homesellers with paneling that means it’s got to go or be painted —especially if it is on the main floor where buyers most often make their home-buying decision.  FYI—as a general rule, you should use a neutral color when painting paneling and the other walls in the space should be the same color as well.