I've mucked up haven't I?

[LapCatLicker]

We just had new carpet installed on our stairs and upstairs bedrooms. It's lovely but now it shows off how badly scratched and worn the paint and wallpaper are.The problem is that the skirting boards have dark scratches right down near the base where they meet the new carpet. We should have painted first right? How do we go about re-painting/papering/plastering without ruining our lovely new carpet?

You can buy a roll of giant sticky tape for carpets - they stay on while you decorate - then when you peel off it vacuums the carpet for you

Don't panic.
You could have painted all the skirting fresh and lovely and then the carpet fitters come in and scuff them when they install.