It is a really regal piece of accent that goes with most surroundings. Feels soft and somewhat fluffy. We love it. Works with or without an underlay but with underlay is always better to give the shorter pile extra plumpness.  Perfect size too. Would have preferred if the higher pile is single color so that when vacuumed, it stays the same color and not identical to the darker color of the lower pile. Will need to vacuum in one direction  to maintain the two-tone shade