With your background in finance you can start to sort out your comfort and enhance your criteria there.  

Carpet, like anything else comes in a variety of styles, colors and textures that determine price.

I've been looking for help on a rehab property that had a strange texture. found it there!

"Truth in advertising" my walls are textured. 

When I bid a home I spend at least an hour with the investor to understand basic taste such as material grade, creative enhancement opportunities that may exist in the asset and desired time line.

If it's just "paneling", chepa material with a finish over it, you can just primer it, fill in the "gaps" and then texture and paint it.

If you take some of that money and invest in a degree ($50K at a state school, including room and board) or a technical certificate (some are only a few thousand and take less than a year), you're earning potential will be significantly enhanced.

Keep your REI account separate from your personal account and never rob it to enhance your personal life until your WHY is achieved.  

Provide all of the above for low margins on a property that is not going to enhance the portfolio. 

I also like the lack of noise, and having minimalist light countertops with a more textured kitchen tile.