I was looking for a soft gray sofa that was reasonably priced and this was by far the nicest one I found. The color is pretty true to the online picture. Maybe a touch darker. Also, note that the sofa is firm, which is fine for me. The sofa is a bit high for me (I am 5'0") with my short legs not reaching the ground but that is fine by me as well. You can switch out to shorter legs if need be. The fabric definitely has a sheen/slight velvet look to it but still looks nice. You can add a few different textured throw pillows to soften that velvety look. Shipping does take awhile (mine arrived about 3 weeks after ordering) but worth the wait. Also, assembly is easy with just having to screw in the legs. There was a slight blemish on the base but the great and speedy customer service helped to resolve quickly. Would recommend if you want a stylish sofa but are on a budget.