This is the room in question the furniture will be replaced with a creamy white suite but the carpet will also go when the new furniture arrives

A dark oatmeal colour. If its not too late go select your carpet before settling on a paint colour. You will have limitations with carpet but the choice of paint colour is endless. By all means have an idea of paint colour in your head but finalise it last.

I laid a mid-dark grey/light charcoal in my sons bedroom 2yr ago. Every bit of lint, fluff does show. The dirt didn't though. We are renovating and this room was recently inundated with rain as our roof is off :-( we now need to replace this. I will be using the same colour again....now I need to figure out what it was!!! I vaguely remember 'granite'. It is also a twist-loop with a pattern, so doesn't show tread marks. The place we are renting has light cream throughout. OMG. Terrible- the dirt. I know what I'd rather see. Give me lint anyday!

I admire darker shades in carpets when matched with a pastel - like this example