This is a great quality rug for the price!  As other reviews mentioned, it does shed a bit at first but I'm sure it won't after a few times of vacuuming .  It is a deep cornflower blue and not gray at all.  The picture online makes it look like a pretty light gray, not the case; however, I read the reviews about the color and ordered it anyway because I like it so much.  I have a very thin but cushioned pad underneath the rug but the rug itself is very soft and comfortable under your feet.