Before your buy your paint and begin painting, you'll need to determine the type of paneling you have - textured or smooth, glossy or flat. For textured or flat paneling with no finish, you'll need to use a stain-blocking primer. If it's smooth or glossy, use a high-adhesion primer.

Remove all furniture, window treatments, outlet covers, and wall hangings from the room.

Protect floors with drop cloths.

Tape off baseboards with painter's tape.

Clean the paneling with this pre-paint cleaner and allow to dry completely.

Patch holes with spackling and sand when dry.

Caulk cracks and gaps with a non-shrinking caulk.

Cut in and then roll each wall with primer.

After the primer is dry, cut in and roll each wall with your finish paint.

Apply a second coat if needed.

Re-install outlet covers, window treatments, etc. and move all the furniture back in after the paint is dry.