Software
Houzz Logo Print
sueboe_gw

Paint exterior same color as neighbor?

18 years ago

I am trying to choose between 2 exterior paint colors. The one I like best (a medium to dark olive-tone neutral) is very similar if not identical to my next door neighbor's paint color. Should I avoid it solely for this reason? The houses are close together- about 12 feet, although there are a lot of trees screening the houses from each other. One house is stucco, one is wood siding. Architectural details are different although both are one-story houses and are somewhat consistent in style. Trim color would be similar although the accent color would be different. The neighborhood is eclectic but most houses are painted in neutral colors.

Assuming you couldn't custom-tint the paint to a different shade, what would you do? Unfortunately, I have some doubts about my second-choice paint color (a very straightforward brown), so I'm really struggling with this decision!

Comments (12)

  • 18 years ago

    Our next door neighbors just closed on there new home and it is the same exact color as ours. There trim work is a slightly lighter color. Different front elevation than ours, but otherwise almost the same house. Could care less. The only time we even thought about it was when the new owners brought it up. They are great neighbors and the exterior paint doesn't mean a thing to either my wife nor I. Go with the color you like, even if it is the same as next door. Too many other more important things in life to worry about than if the color is the same as next door. Quite frankly, we felt it a compliment our neighbors painted there's the same color, particularly the fact that there house came in at around 2 million.

  • PRO
    18 years ago

    Some Homeowner Associations have guidelines about neighboring homes sharing too similar color palettes. If you have a HOA, you might want to double check.

    Even if there isn't HOA influencing color choices, I make an effort to differentiate to whatever degree possible from neighboring homes. There are a lot of colors out there to choose from, espeically a lot of very nice exterior greens. You mention the homes being consistent in style and that would give me pause as well. The trees would help to a certain degree, but still I think for the most part people like to think that their homes are unique and have some individuality. You also mention that the neighborhood overall is ecclectic, another point to consider. Will all the other houses own their style so to speak making you and your neighbor's house then look out of place because your homes would be the only ones that are similar in style and identical in color? Lastly, do you know what your neighbor would think of your painting your house the same color? Would be unfortunate if she/he didn't take the imitation as flattery and have it cause a bit of tension between the two of you.

    You may or may not have already considered most of these points. Just trying to help you think it through. :-)

  • 18 years ago

    I have to agree with funcolors. It would be different for the two houses to be the same beige, but for them both to be what sounds like a pretty distinctive green may look funny, and they really may not be the laid-back type who wouldn't care. There are so many nice paint colors in the world - could you possibly use your green on the trim or something?

  • 18 years ago

    I have to admit that I wouldn't love it if my next door neighbors painted their house the same color as mine. My house is pale green with ivory trim. If my neighbor painted it a medium green with a different color trim, I'd probably be okay with it. But I wouldn't like it if it were essentially the same color scheme as my house.

    It wouldn't ruin my relationship with neighbors, and it certainly wouldn't be something that I stressed over. But I wouldn't love it.

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks for the input. I am going to try to avoid both neighbors' paint colors, although since they both use mid-tone neutrals it is knocking out a lot of choices!

  • 18 years ago

    FWIW - We recently moved from a community (Florida) that had FOUR houses in a row the SAME color, one of which was OURS. Sure they were slightly different styles and two had a slight different trim color" but even three had same color roofs. Back in 1988 it started as (as was still supposed to be) "deed restricted" with H.O.A. but the HOA "dissolved" years ago and I guess "anything goes" as they say.... the lack of ANY "enforced" HOA was one of the main reasons (in addition to sloppy, un-cut lawns, vehicles and boats all over the streets, rowdy kids, etc.) we only stayed there one year then moved out !!
    Anyway, back ON-topic...... the "look" of FOUR houses the SAME COLOR was the strangest thing we ever saw, unfortunately down here in ever-growing Florida, it is very, very common, and when on a "zero-lot-line" (ONLY 7 1/2 feet TOTAL BETWEEN BOTH HOUSES) it really looks strange.

  • 18 years ago

    How close a match? If it's a color you really love, I'd take your chip over to your neighbor's house and actually compare. If yours is off a few shades, I think you'll be fine. If it's exactly the same, then go off a few shades or tones.

  • 8 years ago

    Don't copy your next door neighbor!!!!!! Our HOA worthless pieces of @#$% approved our next door neighbors color that is the exact colors we used. It now looks like we live in a duplex. We don't even like the people next door now I hate them. No point in us repainting as they will copy again and get away with it again. Never will I live in a HOA again I can get screwed living anywhere.

  • 8 years ago

    I'll be the dissenting opinion. The homes have different architectural features, different siding, and different accent colors. I don't see a problem. In a few years one of the houses will be painted again and the entire issue will be moot. The cheap absentee landlord of the house next to mine FINALLY had it painted last year. I wish they had used the same colors as my home rather than the ugly colors they chose. Oh well, at least it's painted.

  • 8 years ago

    They had 27 colors to pick from no reason to copy. They also painted w/o approval first but won because the HOA doesn't have a rule stating you can't copy the house next door. The house on the other side of me wants to paint so we can be copied again and it could be approved! So we would have 4 houses in a row painted just alike! The couple 2 doors down was told they couldn't paint #6 scheme but they fought the HOA and won and of the 3 houses their house looks the best and they came and told us they wanted to copy our house because they loved everything we did. Next door blindsighted us and got away with it! Love the couple on the corner and don't care if they copy our fountain and house #'s not underhanded people!

  • 8 years ago

    Personally i wouldn’t because it will probably be confusing for deliveries and guests. It’s nice to be able to say “The house with the purple door” if only your house has it.

    Maybe if you post some pics of your house and the colors you’re considering, someone can help with some alternatives. I doubt that shade of green is the only one that will look nice on your house. Let another pair of eyes take a look.