Protection and preservation of wood properties in exterior environments can only be ensured if the surface is coated with a paint or varnish. In our experiments a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was used as a wood surface pretreatment for improvement of the subsequent deposition of thin paint layers from solutions onto these surfaces. As the adsorption, interfacial interactions and adhesion of paints are strongly dependent on surface wettability, the dynamics of the wetting process were analyzed. The results show that the water contact angle decreases after the DBD treatment, proving a more wettable surface. Additionally, the spreading of paint solution on the DBD-treated surface is more isotropic, showing a lower tendency to elongate along the wood fiber orientation.