This rug is lovely.  It's something I've wanted for quite some time and am glad that I finally purchased it.  It goes great in our living room.  It took a bit for it to finally lay flat after unpacking it when it arrived but after a few days it was fine.  I can see where a pad underneath would be beneficial if you do not have a heavier object to hold it in place (our coffee table holds it down well).  Overall I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking to purchase a cow-hide rug that isn't real cow-hide.