This rug is beautiful and bright and looks awesome on my patio.  The white background is a very light cream or off-white.  If you have a dog that will be near this rug, it's probably not the best choice, just because it will turn brown from the dirt.  The upside to that is that I have been able to get all stains out of this rug with no problem and the fibers have held together very well.  It is very sturdy and cute!