I was a little worried because pictures varied from being very bright to being pastel.  In actuality the colors are  definitely not pastel, but they are not neon-bright either.  The rug is pretty - it's feminine without being in your face.  The design looks like brush-strokes so is easy and fluid to look at.  We have it in my daughters room, and purchased it because it will grow with her and not look like a baby rug as she gets older.