Affordable face-lift for worn pine floorboards that were previously stained.

Hi renovators,
I have a 1960's home with what I believe are pine floorboards. Some 20 years ago I noticed the floorboards were stained in the hallway and lounge room and looked quite nice and certainly preferable to the filthy shag carpet, which we pulled up. Most of the intervening time we've been poor as church mice and haven't replaced the carpet or restained or sealed the floorboards. The stain has worn through and don't look great anymore as you can see in the pic.

We are hoping to sell up and move elsewhere next year, and I'm looking for advice as unfortunately most of the articles I've seen are for hardwood floors.
I'm reticent to put much money into this, for fear of overcapitalising prior to sale, or much effort, as there is just so much more work to do elsewhere in the home, and all these things take my woodworking time away!

I would not be at all surprised if a new owner laid new carpet, lino or one of those floating floors through the hall and lounge where these floorboards are currently uncovered so just need to prevent it being a detraction from the sale. In other words I just want a little facelift so the wear is less noticeable.

I thought my next step over the holiday season might be to do some test sections with some stain to experiment.
In the meantime, please drop a reply if you have any advice.
thanks, anc
Attachment 519776

Cheap new floating floor, 1 day done and dusted

Any attempt at a cheap stain fix is always going to look like just that, cheap and an eye sore plus the time and inconvenience whilst doing it over about 3 or 4 days (preparation/sanding/etc, staining, waiting for it to dry properly)

thanks for the advice Ray

As others have mentioned. It will probably show. Looks from the worn bits like it might have been one of those varnish stain things. Give it a crack and then decide. The suggestion of cheap overlay will cost? well something and will be good for some customers - regarded as rubbish by others. Rugs? We -in a rental have a patch like this that is only in the front entrance (not stain -peeling water based poly.):C

thanks wood spirit
:)