Do your neighbours ever copy you?

[RedBlu]

We recently purchased our first home, its a new build on a new development so our house isn't unique and is nearby several other identical houses so we have done small things to make our house a bit different from the rest.

However, these small things are being copied by our neighbours within weeks and it is really starting to annoy me. I swear one in particular watches to see what we do, then rushes out to buy the exact same stuff.

For example, we painted out shed a bright colour, put bunting up, some decorative bits and pieces and it looks really nice. This particular neighbour copied us within weeks, painting their shed a slightly different tone but in the same colour, putting up bunting, etc.

They have also copied the plants we planted at the front and the topiary we have near our front door.

They have never introduced themselves to us, keep themselves to themselves but are seemingly "single white female-ing" our house.

Anyone else ever had this issue? I am considering seeing how far I can get them to go with the copying, may have to buy some really hideous lawn ornaments and see if they go for it?

[WeAllHaveWings]

We are sprucing up our garden and I'm just having a break from painting my shed a brightish colour. Garden paints are all over the place just now and bunting everywhere too. Don't think she's copying you she probably got ideas from the next/b&q/homebase or whatever catalogue. Everything you have done is just what people are doing to their gardens just now, you've just been quicker this summer in doing yours.

[SqueezyCheeseWeasel]

My shed has been painted a 'colour' for 10 years.

[CruCru]

I like the post where the neighbours ordered someone to copy them. That's flipping hilarious.

[Wagglebee]

I believe they're definitely copying you but I'd take it as a compliment. Pinterest came to my mind too. You're like a living Pinterest board. If they start copying your clothing or interior decor then get creeped out but done planting and a shed is ok. Just laugh it off.

[ChippyMinton]

My house is one of a pair. My neighbour painted their doors sage green to go with our British racing green. So when we wanted a change, we felt obliged to stay coordinated, so had to pick a different shade of green. I don't mind, the houses look smart as a pair although I had a hankering for a deep shade of aubergine and dh wanted F&B Locks orange

[ghostyslovesheep]

painted sheds with twee bunting and potted privets are not new so yabu - you are copying a general fashion and so are they

[Everythingwillbeok]

OP YANBU......it's bloody annoying and to all the posters saying they really wouldn't mind you'd feel differently if it happened to you, imagine you've spent weeks researching ideas and putting things together and somebody just takes the exact same idea and does it! It's kind of creepy and so uncomfortable when it happens you almost want to change your stuff again but why should you?

It's infuriating and as for the argument that you're both just copying a trend that why the bloody hell didn't they do it first then?

[SycamoreMum]

YANBU. Thats annoying. Your neighbours need to grab a magazine and go find their own style.

[sanfairyanne]

you are both just copying someone else - painted sheds and bunting are all over the place at the moment

[StrumpersPlunkett]

It happens everywhere
We live in a little cul de sac
18 months ago a neighbour got rid of the hideous gas fire that we all have in our street and put in a wood burning stove. Since then there have been 2 more and this summer there are 4 more planned. A factor could be that the houses are dated and we are all updating at a similar time or that we are copying the first house
As we are all v v friendly. It is an open secret that we are indeed copying as we think it looks fab.

[Iwantakitchen]

I have just painted my house white just like the neibour's, terraced house, as theirs looked nice and clean and ours looked well, magnolia and dirty. I am proud to be keeping up with them and no longer embarrassed! I wonder if they think like you...

[MrsBigginsPieShop]

Yes! We moved in eight months ago and in that time have had the driveway re-done, wallpapered and landscaped the garden. Two weeks after each job, our next door neighbour would do the same thing! Even down to the furniture from the same company. It's now getting quite creepy: we replastered some rooms two weeks ago and this morning a plasterer's van pulled up outside their house.....

[sebsmummy1]

We are about to get our soffits, fascias and guttering replaced and I am excited to see if we start a trend. We are in a cul de sac where one side has identikit houses with the same style guttering (white and square). We are pushing the boat out and having white fascias with black guttering that is round. I am rubbing my thighs with excitement to see if any of the neighbours follow suit

[fourtothedozen]

Have you thought about voluntary work OP? Just to get you out a bit more.

[Dawndonnaagain]

We have new neighbours. She keeps doing things out the front in the hopes that I'm going to copy her. Mate, I'm really not going to go and polish the house numbers, or repaint the front door that I only did last year.

[fourtothedozen]

Have I entered a parallel Universe? Does anyone actually get so up tight about this? Mumsnet Stepford Wives.

[EducationalWelfareMakeMeCry]

I had one neighbour copy one thing, she explained she did it so our homes matched, then another neighbour did the same thing. I wasn't bothered as I was only fixing something that needed replacing in a slightly different way.

[gamerchick]

I howled at that squeezy

OP can't you just stop being annoyed and start having a bit of fun with this? They're copying you... Endless amusement in that.

[CheesyNachos]

We live in a row of ordinary Victorian terraces. One set of neighbours about 4 years ago painted their house cream, added a window box, with a red painted trim and white cyclamen. At which point the rest of us (7 houses) said ; 'what a fantastic idea!!!' and we all painted our houses different colours, added window boxes etc, so it looks like a more muted version of Balamory.

Looks fab. Nicest street around here!

[fourtothedozen]

Balamory is based on a real place called Tobermory in the Scottish Isles.

[Pipbin]

OMG she is so copying you - that is so unfair.
And I heard that she bought that top that you had from New Look it's so wrong because you had it first.
And I heard that she is going to ask out Ryan in 5C which is so unfair because you said that you liked him ages ago and she should have at least asked you first.

[Misssss]

My old neighbour used to. She bought an identical car to me, same dealership and year so the licence plate was v similar. Then she copied my hair, bought the same bike as me and even applied for a job where I worked at the time. Totally irritating but I guess it was a form of flattery.

[AndDeepBreath]

Pipbin, I actually had one of my first laugh out loud moments on Mumsnet. Thank you

[TheIncredibleBookEatingManchot]

Do you really need to express your individuality through a shed?

You live close together so you probably shop in the same places and have been influenced by all the same things.

There's no reason why they shouldn't decorate their shed and plant their garden in the way they like just because someone else has done it first.

as for the argument that you're both just copying a trend that why the bloody hell didn't they do it first then?
Maybe they didn't have time or had to save up to buy the paint and bunting?