How can I lighten real knotty pine paneling that has a varnish finish? I love it but is old and yellowish now

My living room is done in knotty pine, probably circa the mid-60's. I love the pine, but it is old and yellow-y looking and I would like to strip it somehow, but it has what looks like a thick coat of varnish on it. My husband claims it can't be done, but my grandma says that she "bleached" her knotty pine way back when, but doesn't really remember how. I would like to keep it, but it needs to be lighter! Has anyone done this? and if so, how?!!

How can I lighten real knotty pine paneling that has a varnish finish? I love it but is old and yellowish now
You will have to strip the furniture of all the top coat first (big job) Then you can get a wood conditioner or brightener which should revive the wood and bring back the natural lustre of the wood. Then you can get a stain which has a white tint to it, (check where the furniture stains are kept in the hardware store.) Follow the instructions on the can and make sure you top coat your work after staining with a non-yellowing sealer like polyurethane or varnish. Also if you are using an oil based stain make sure to use an oil based sealer, common sense but sometimes people forget.
Reply:strip it and redo with a light stain
Reply:Varnishes and shellac turn yellow over time. this is why Polyurethane is so popular. For your problem, you would need to strip the current coating and apply a new coating.