My boyfriend and I have just bought our first home. While we love all of the improvement potential, we're stumped by the dark grey carpets the previous homeowners put in both bedrooms.

We're on a shoe string budget and are spending our spare cash on other, more time sensitive, projects around the house, so replacing the carpet isn't an option. The rooms are small, and while they both have windows, they aren't particularly sunny. I want to lighten the rooms somehow, rather than making them really contrast-y (e.g. I wouldn't want to decorate with, say, black and red).

I'm at a loss! Any suggestions?