Painting/Decorating Input Needed

So now that our first floor is all done, we'd like to do the basement but we're doing it ourselves and on the cheap. The carpet is pretty new, and the walls are like plywood? they're really thin boards that are a little textured. We'll put up sheetrock when we can afford it, but for now we just want to paint the walls ourselves.

Anyone know how to paint this stuff? does it need to be primed?
Also I'm open to color suggestions... want to make it brighter down there.

ALSO... the bar, which you can't see bc it's covered in stuff, has like an old-school countertop material as the top and on the shelving (I have no idea what this is called but hopefully you know what i mean). Anyway it's 70s green and ugly. Can something be put OVER it or does it need to be ripped out?

Thanks!!!

Here's a couple of pics:

Re: Painting/Decorating Input Needed

Definitely prime!!! It took my parents like 18 coats when they first painted their basement b/c they didn't prime.

I don't know what you mean about the bar countertop but I'm sure you could tile over the top with inexpensive tile and just use contact paper on the shelving....

Re: Painting/Decorating Input Needed

Posted by Jenn627

Definitely prime!!! It took my parents like 18 coats when they first painted their basement b/c they didn't prime.

I don't know what you mean about the bar countertop but I'm sure you could tile over the top with inexpensive tile and just use contact paper on the shelving....

Re: Painting/Decorating Input Needed

that wood seems like it would be very porous. I would def use at least 2 coats of primer before painting.