The rug arrived on our doorstep all rolled up, and I thought there would be no way that the pile would be high enough -- it looked like it would be completely flat -- but miraculously it was perfect when we rolled it out. The color and pattern is just as pictured, it feels very soft on bare feet, and looks great in our living room. I should note that the dimensions are not exactly 8x8 -- it's more like 7 1/2 x 7 3/4 if memory serves, but it's close enough for what we need it for.