I would give it 3.5 stars. It’s not a true velvet material and the stitching gives the illusion of tufting at a distance. I wish the tufting was deeper along the back of the sofa to make it less curved and more vertical. In terms of comfort level, the seat is firm, but that was expected. The shade of gray is very similar to the Joybird fabric swatch called Royal Ash (see swatch in picture). Overall, it is a decent sofa and serves the purpose.