The color is a little darker and grayer than a typical "linen" description. Not by much, though, and it's really pretty. We bought it for the foot of the bed but I switched it for a window seat in the great room. I love that it has storage for extra blankets or seasonal pillows and such. I've been monitoring pieces like this at so many sites for over a year now, and this really beats anything, price wise and style wise, I found. ( that's why I bought it )  Very happy with it