Homeowner confronted by their neighbor over the color they decided to paint their house

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Aug 2, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

The best part about finally owning your own home is that you can do whatever you want with it—within legal limitations and logical reasoning. Of course, you'll quickly come to realize that this isn't necessarily the case, as you'll also be contending with nosy HOA members poking around looking for a single blade of grass out of line. You'll also be subject to the opinions of your neighbors, who will be more than happy to share them with you as though their judgement is law.

This homeowner bought a home in a neighborhood without an HOA, hoping that the lack of bylaws, oversight, and meddling the HOA would bring. Their hope was that by avoiding such restrictions, they'd be able to paint their house a color they'd always wanted: peach with sage and pink accents.

Unfortunately, their neighbor "Paul," who seems to be a drab sort of fellow, quickly took offense to the liveliness of the colors they chose, making his thoughts known loudly—and often. Safe to say at this point also that Paul is probably not a huge fan of John Cougar Mellencamp. Unfortunately, things began to escalate when the pair had a confrontation and exchanged a few words. The homeowner then learned that Paul had been telling others in the community how difficult they were.

This pushed the homeowner to share their version of events with this online community, posing the question to readers whether or not they were in the wrong for the situation. Were they? You decide.

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  • 01
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    via Ashe Walker
  • 02
    AITA for telling my neighbor to grow up, get a life, and get the fover the fact that I painted my house a color he doesn't like? I bought a house in a community without an HOA I wanted my home to be MY home, and that includes making it look the way that I want. I also chose a neighborhood that already has fun, colorful houses instead of just plain earth tones.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 03
    I finally got to the point where I could repaint my house. I picked a soft peachy color with sage, blue, and soft and dark pink accents. Fun and colorful without being too out there. I think if you google "coolors blue sage peach" you'll see a similar palette. My neighbor Paul hates it and has been complaining since we started the project. He also made his opinion known that he hates our front lawn (lots of wildflowers and sunflowers, fun garden flags, a Little Free Library, etc).
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 04
    Each and every time, I've told him that I don't care. Truly, I don't. And I've suggested a few times that maybe he'd be happier in a HOA community that has control over everything and forces people into having earth toned homes. Paul got angry when I suggested that and said he's lived in his home for 15 years and shouldn't have to move. I told him okay, well you'll have to learn to live with a little color.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 05
    Last weekend I was putting in pavers that my niece and I had painted together. They're all things like ladybugs, turtles, birds, etc in fun colors. I adore them and my niece is so excited she gets to be a part of my home. Paul came over to complain yet again, saying it was all an "eyesore" and my niece was here, so I just told him "It's time for you to grow up and get the over what I'm doing with my house."
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 06
    He got even pissier and told me that I have no right to talk to him this way, do I know who I'm talking to, etc. I told him to just go away and get a life. If he has so much free time to and moan about a colorful house, maybe he should get a hobby.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 07
    He stormed off, calling me a nasty piece of work. My niece was cracking up on the side. For the record, no one in my family is uptight, we really don't care about cursing. I know some people still clutch their pearls over it around kids (she's 15) but I'm sure she says worse.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 08
    Anyway one of the other neighbors came to tell me that he's been flapping his yap about how disrespectful I am to talk to him like that. She told me that she knows he's a pain, but that he has been in the neighborhood forever and it's worth being nice to him. I don't know. Is telling him to get a life that big of a deal? AITA?
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 09
    OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the I told my older neighbor to get a life and a hobby instead of whining about my house colors and style. This may have been too far because we're supposed to respect our elders. And he's got a right to his opinion.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 10
    NanaLeonie 12 hr. ago . NTA. The house's color scheme sounds gorgeous something we'd have here in our Inman Park neighborhood. My guess is your neighbor is more upset about the kitchy items in your front yard than the color of your house. Maybe you need some pink flamingoes.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 11
    mmwhatchasaiyan · 12 hr. ago Next time he comes by with a complaint: "Hi Paul, I put some serious thought into your criticisms over my house. I think we could come to an agreement where if you start to pay my mortgage and my bills, then I will happily adjust the aesthetic of my home to your liking. We could start Aug 1? Does that work for you? Otherwise, as the person paying the bills here, I'm going to continue doing. whatever I want with my
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 12
    property, and will ask you to not approach me or my property again for this matter." Or a simple "Get F'd Paul". Up to you. Either way, NTA.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 13
    forgeris 12 hr. ago NTA, some people just don't understand when you try to be polite with them, so it is not your fault that you told them to f-off, it is their fault. I bet other people would just fall down on their knees and praise this neighbor and do whatever he wants, yeah right.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 14
    I always am very polite, but if other people do not understand or don't want to understand I become very this saves me a lot of time in future because these people know what I will tell them and they don't even try to pull more just doesn't work. on me as it
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 15
    catskilkid 3 days ago ΝΤΑ He comes harassing you and you need to be nice? Riddle me that one? If the neighbor who is suggesting you be nice has ANY suggestions on how to keep this blowhard out of you face/property, that would be more helpful then "kids its both your fault" advice. It may take two to fight, but he is the only one creating the situation. You can't walk away, it's your house,
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 16
    so he is actively seeking conflict BUT is offended that he is called out. You do you and you are NTA!
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 17
    PhAiLMeRrY 11 hr. ago I have hated every pink house I've ever seen. Even matte peach... it's the worst color you cant paint a house other than purple. That being said, it's your house. The end.
    via u/FarImpression787
  • 18
    Outlander56 · 12 hr. ago NTA. Just because he's "Been in the neighborhood forever" doesn't give him any rights. It's not a seniority system. If he doesn't like he is cordially invited to pound salt up a hole. Get a camera, because this IS the kind of cat that will vandalize your yard.
    via u/FarImpression787

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hoa aita neighbors neighborhood homeowner neighborhood-drama bad neighbors neighborhood-stories terrible neighbors Bad Neighbor neighbor
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