I love this rug! Over the years I have used a number of outdoor rugs and this is my favorite. I had no problems with it laying down perfectly flat. It is soft to be easy on the feet and yet hardy enough for outdoor wear. I am going to order another one in a different size in front of the sliding door.￼ The one I have is an 8 x 5. The colors blend with any shades of gray you might have. Colors are subtle but you can still see the variation.￼