So as I think I maybe mentioned here a few times that we are currently re-doing the basement apartment, after a ten-year tenant moved out, in hopes that I can move down there (more-or-less) and have my own place while still not leaving Mom alone.

Mom was hoping for a quick redo, but the tenant had planned to only be there six months or so while they arranged permanent housing, so we had left a lot of things that already needed fixed undone to get them moved in fast, and the things that needed fixed were then ten years further on, plus the tenant had never been a tenant before and hadn't really gotten the hang of "tell the homeowner if something needs fixed, don't just jerry-rig and make do" so among other things there were several long-standing water leaks we didn't find out about that had messed up some of the walls and flooring.

Anyway, that is lead-up to: I need to buy new wall paneling for three walls: two short walls in the kitchen, and one short wall in the main room. The rest of the place is 70s fake-wood paneling directly over studs/furring. The ceilings are old off-white suspended panels. I want to get the new paneling the same for all three walls.

It needs to be;
4x8 foot panels;
heavy-duty enough to go directly over studs without drywall or other solid underlayer.

This already limits our options a lot, because neither of those things are the currently trendy kind of paneling.

I would prefer:
mildew-resistant;
light enough in color to not further darken a basement apartment;
not heavily textured in a way that will attract grime and be uncleanable;
not terribly clashing with the current 70s-tastic decor, and also not almost-but-not-quite-a-match;
I can go down to the shop and pick it up curbside.

It would be nice if:
I like it;
It wouldn't be dated immediately;
It would go reasonably well with my general bog witch/mad scientist/tiny used bookshop decor theme.

Here's a collage of the best options I saw, that at least fit "needs" and most of "prefers":





( Here's the stuff it ought to match with )

( My current thoughts (spoilers) )