Our rug arrived yesterday and so far we are very pleased! It's casually elegant, the color is a beautiful muted blue (a bit more "dusty" than shown on my computer screen). Yes, you need a rug pad underneath. Right now I am using a cheap one that I already had on hand and it's working OK along with anchoring the edges with our furniture. My primary concern is how well it will hold up with a dog and kids in the house as the threads are looped - but compared to most 9x12 rugs this is great looking and affordable - and no stinky chemical smell!!