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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Friend has "copied" my living room ...aibu?

182 replies

chinhg · 09/09/2022 12:17

I know this isn't important in the grand scheme of things but here we go...
My friend decorated 6 months ago and loved her living room.
Three week ago I was getting work done and showed my friend a picture of the living room I loved and the colour paint I was getting and also lamps and flooring.

She said it was lovely and loved it.
Two days ago she sent me a picture -she has just stripped her living room
She's bought the same paint and same lamps.
Saying "that colour I had was just not for me"
Although she loved it a week ago
Aibu to be a bit annoyed ?

OP posts:
5zeds · 09/09/2022 12:18

Why does it matter?

averageavocado · 09/09/2022 12:19

not sure I could get worked up about it to be honest

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 09/09/2022 12:19

I’d be flattered that she so admired your taste she had to copy it. Getting annoyed about something so minor could be interpreted as rather petty

ILikeHotWaterBottles · 09/09/2022 12:20

Tell her it is lovely, but that you've changed your mind too and show her a different colour altogether that you've chosen with very expensive lamps to go with it. See if she falls for it. 😂

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/09/2022 12:20

Are your living rooms going to be photographed together at any point? If not.... Can't get worked up about it

Notimeforaname · 09/09/2022 12:20

Meh, its paint and a lamp. You showed her somthing, she liked it and bought it. Slightly weird but you dont own the colours and the lamps. Let it go.

IncompleteSenten · 09/09/2022 12:20

I'd say "thanks. It's really flattering that you love my taste so much! It looks as gorgeous in your house as it's going to look in mine."

fortheloveofflowers · 09/09/2022 12:20

Ah that would annoy me too, she'll be saying you copied her.

Just look for something else and don't show her.

BagOfGin · 09/09/2022 12:21

ILikeHotWaterBottles · 09/09/2022 12:20

Tell her it is lovely, but that you've changed your mind too and show her a different colour altogether that you've chosen with very expensive lamps to go with it. See if she falls for it. 😂

This could be a fun game!

FourTeaFallOut · 09/09/2022 12:21

Take it as a compliment. Or go full psychological warfare and decorate yours like her old living room?

misskatamari · 09/09/2022 12:21

I mean, it is a bit off I guess. I’m sure I’d feel the same as you. But rationally, it doesn’t matter so try to just chalk it up to one of those things

KennAdams · 09/09/2022 12:21

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

mamabear715 · 09/09/2022 12:22

Irritating, but console yourself with the fact that she obviously doesn't have your creativity.
Loving @ILikeHotWaterBottles idea! ;-)

Applebark · 09/09/2022 12:23

I'm going to guess that there are more people out there with the same painted walls as you both. Unless they only ever sold those 2 tins of paint.

Aquamarine1029 · 09/09/2022 12:23

Unless she's stolen your furniture, you're being very unreasonable and very silly.

LookItsMeAgain · 09/09/2022 12:24

Step 1 - stop sharing plans for what way you are planning on decorating your house
OR
Step 1 - share the most outrageous plans for the way you are planning on decorating your house (but you will actually chose something different).

See what happens.

The person she is imitating is the person who put the living room in the photo together. She's not imitating you OP. Try to put your own spin on things, use different soft furnishings, different accent pieces.

latetothefisting · 09/09/2022 12:24

It is a bit weird but she's allowed to change her own living room. It's fair enough her seeing your plans and thinking "wow I love that colour" - colours do go in trends and if everyone who had a grey room in the last 10 years accused a friend of copying them it would get a bit silly. Choosing the exact same lamps as you as well as the room colour is a bit odd though, there are so many lamps to choose from.

But even then by the time you have different shape and sized rooms and different furniture I doubt they'll look that similar.

Testina · 09/09/2022 12:26

I’m going to guess that your idea that she has copied is all over Instagram anyway? Whatever the current equivalent of grey is 🤷🏻‍♀️
I’d have a little smile to myself that she liked my style… but not care.

dudsville · 09/09/2022 12:27

How is this going to affect you though? You showed her a copy of something you liked, so presumably you were styilng your room based on the picture of what someone else did????

isthismylifenow · 09/09/2022 12:27

Is changing decor every 6 months a thing?

Meh, I would just tell her it looks like her taste has improved...

Thepeopleversuswork · 09/09/2022 12:27

I find these posts about people "copying" stuff (living rooms, baby names, hairstyles) absolutely head-scratching.

Did you patent your paint job and lamp? No. So she's done nothing wrong. No one owns light blue or the name Chloe or whatever. People are free to choose things they like as long as they are not trademarked and it causes no harm.

I cannot see why anyone would get worked up about this.

FourTeaFallOut · 09/09/2022 12:31

isthismylifenow · 09/09/2022 12:27

Is changing decor every 6 months a thing?

Meh, I would just tell her it looks like her taste has improved...

It's not a thing here. It's a lot of time, fuss and head space.

EveningOverRooftops · 09/09/2022 12:34

BagOfGin · 09/09/2022 12:21

This could be a fun game!

Show quote history

I’m ready to be invested in this game 😈

KyaClark · 09/09/2022 12:35

What's the colour? I'm thinking about decorating by living room

EveningOverRooftops · 09/09/2022 12:36

Yes? What are the pictures you shared and colour? Genuinely curious as I’ve not had anyone copy my navy blue and dark green living room.