This rug is beautiful in person. The rug is definitely lighter in the middle and gradually gets more colorful to the outer edges. The fringe on two sides is nothing special (I didn't care about the fringe though). The rug arrived folder and I was worried it would be hard to get it to lay flat, but luckily the rug is thin enough that it unfolded beautifully with no major creases. I haven't laid the rug out yet in the space and walked over it, but it feels very soft to the touch. Very happy with the purchase.