The color of the sand is indeed sand, which is not what the photo indicates. And I wanted sand, so that's good. The square of the pattern is slightly off, but that's fine. I needed a rug to use as a runner in my kitchen that wouldn't stain. Also, I wanted a stain-proof rug without a latex back. Latex backing discolors vinyl flooring and can attract pets to mark. For the price, this rug is exactly what I wanted!