I looked for for a gray upholstered bed in stores and online for weeks. This one was the best price I could find and it is nicer than most that I looked at. Many had cheap looking tufting and fake nailhead trim, but both look great on this bed. The gray is a little more on the taupe side, but it is a nice neutral shade and looks great with my Repose Gray walls. The bed is very sturdy and was pretty easy to put together. I put plywood under my mattress only because so have a very low-profile latex mattress and I didn't want it to squish between the slats.