We've had berber in our last two houses and it wears like steel. The first house we sold after seven years and the carpet looked perfect. We used the same carpet in our new house. We have eight year old twins. Below is a link to what I am pretty sure is the carpet we used. You are probably going to need something a little darker than we picked to have a bit of contrast with your white flooring. There are quite a few colors to pick from. http://www.carpet-wholesale.com/item_83813/Rolls_Of_Carpet/Queen/Lucida/Pearl_Bead.php

Low ceilings = flush lights. Before you purchase carpet get 5 or 6 agents round to value. Ask each for their opinion on what they think will appeal best. Ask them if you could get away with just laying underlay. For the wow factor make sure your budget is spent on items that you can take with you - think a huge 6fx3ft mirror, a bright modern art print, a mirrored console table etc. No need to splash out much just one item in a room or two to indicate wow. A patio table and chairs in the garden are also needed for the selling photos as they will help the buyer to see scale and the garden will appear more homely. A bowl of fruit in a chrome wire bowl in the kitchen will also add wow - stage with green apples and yellow lemons for example. So, to sum up the spend on 'wow' should be limited and only to what you take with you. As for the estate agents some of them do try very hard to give good sales advice so when you book them to value explain that the property is being flipped and you would welcome any ideas on how to present it. You may be surprised at what they suggest.

no problem, so are you saying that wall is closest, but stronger, do you think it might like a smokey teal? that is very in right now, or is it like the grayed out turquoise on the coverlet? Grey would be a wonderful accent with that. Have you thought of making your headboard? So amazingly simple? Give yourself like a nice padded gray? Could go for a silk or velvet? oh do you have dark hairy people? you know like black retrievers or something? that could be a problem. If you put covered buttons, there is actually a little tool (under $10 does it all for you. really glam it up. do these help? I think i would go with light gray or a variation of the wall color. let me know when you are ready for more. Couple ideas for bedside stands, first 2 less than $100, last one idea for alternative.

I was about to say grey until I read the last line. What about a light brown carpet?