An Outdated Rome Apartment Got a Fearless, Low-Budget, Ultra-Colorful Makeover

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About this tour

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Home Type

Apartment

Location

San Giovanni, Rome, Italy

Style

Colorful

Modern

Bedrooms

Square feet

614

Sq ft

614

It wasn’t tons of money that transformed this small apartment in Rome from outdated to colorful and modern. It was the handiwork, vision, and “desire to create something unforgettable” of Marko Morciano, lifestyle and travel content creator and author.

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“My budget was extremely limited, so I couldn’t rely on major renovations. Instead, I relied on creativity. Many of the elements in the house are DIY projects that I designed and made myself,” Marko writes.

Credit: Marko Morciano

Marko is also the creator behind Rome Eclectic Home, a space where he shares his passion for design, interiors, and eclectic living. This apartment, which he also rents on Airbnb, marks a significant turning point in his life: "My return to Rome after living in Milan and the decision to sell my first independently purchased seaside home in order to invest in a new creative chapter," he writes. "The project also coincides with the upcoming publication of my first novel in 2026."

The 614-square-foot apartment was quite outdated when Marko purchased it in April of 2025; he was returning to Rome after living in Milan and was ready to “invest in a new creative chapter.” It would turn out to be quite the investment of time and energy, and he moved into the finished space in September 2025.

Credit: Marko Morciano

"What I love most is its eclectic soul," Marko admits. "Vintage pieces blend with contemporary design, travel memories sit alongside curated objects, and every corner reflects a part of my story. It’s not a perfect, polished space — it has depth, contrast, and authenticity. Over time, I’ve shaped it into a true extension of myself: a place where I live, create, write, and feel inspired every day."

“The furniture felt outdated and visually heavy. The bathroom was entirely covered in iridescent salmon-pink tiles — floor and walls — which made the space feel overwhelming. The bedroom had a bright fire-red bed and a red shelf that partially blocked the natural light. Even the glass panels of the bedroom door felt unfinished. It lacked harmony, intention, and balance,” Marko explains of the space’s condition when he moved in.

Credit: Marko Morciano

"My home’s dirty secret? It’s not always as perfectly styled as it looks on Instagram," Marko admits. "Because I create content here, there are moments when corners are meticulously curated — and others where things are temporarily moved, stacked, or hidden just outside the frame. Behind the camera, there’s sometimes a bit of creative chaos. Another secret is that many of my DIY pieces required trial and error. Not every experiment worked on the first try — there were failed attempts, uneven paint lines, and redesigns along the way. But honestly, I think that’s the beauty of it. The house may look polished in photos, but it’s built on experimentation, mistakes, and constant evolution."

In order to transform the tired space on a budget and without a major renovation, Marko focused on creating visual change using bold and contrasting primary colors like blue, yellow, and red; curating a mix of vintage and modern furniture finds; and DIYing cool decor and lighting projects.

Credit: Marko Morciano

Marko says the timeline for the apartment makeover "wasn’t structured in a traditional way either; it evolved gradually over months, as I reinvested what I could."

He used old bathroom tiles left over from the previous owner and turned them into a fuchsia-colored sculptural light fixture. The large wall mirror on the wall is actually several IKEA mirrors surrounded with a 3D-printed wavy frame. He painted an internal door with a yellow-and-black checkerboard pattern.

Credit: Marko Morciano

"What first caught my attention about this home was the light," Marko explains. "The way it moves through the space during the day gives it warmth and personality. I had been searching for a place with character for quite some time, and I found this apartment through a listing — but the moment I stepped inside, I felt it was the one."

“All of these projects were self-taught, low-cost, and completed gradually. They reflect my approach to design: limited resources, maximum imagination, and the courage to experiment,” Marko writes.

Credit: Marko Morciano

After updating this apartment, Marko describes it as "bold, eclectic, and expressive. I’ve layered color with intention, introduced sculptural lighting and handmade pieces, and rebalanced the space through layout and styling. The apartment now feels curated, vibrant, and full of personality — a space that tells a story rather than just containing furniture."

Instead of fighting limitations, he used them to make an incredibly colorful and creative home. “I experimented, made mistakes, tried again, and trusted my instinct. When guests or visitors discover that I created most of it myself, they often don’t believe me — and that’s honestly the greatest compliment,” he admits.

Resources

Credit: Marko Morciano

ENTRY

Two Hyllis — IKEA, restiling in yellow
Blue mushroom lamp, poster CIAO
Blue wood box paint — Me
Yellow wall and some photos of my Puglia (my land where I was raised) and some posters