OK, first things first. Make sure you have enough room in the bedroom to assemble this. You will not want to build this in a different room and move it, though it is possible to do since this basically is built in three stages-- the bed frame, the drawers, and the bookcase header. I just dont recommend doing that unless you have somebody to help you move it.
Second, this came in two heavy boxes. Lots of styrofoam for the landfills, and plenty of cardboard for recycling. It is enormously intimidating when you start pulling out the parts and a big thing of screws and gizmos for putting it together. It comes with the needed allen wrench, but you will need a Phillips head screwdriver and a hammer for the dowels and little nails for the shelf bottoms and back of the bookcase header. The screws are self drilling so a drill is not required, but I recommend one to save time.
There is a lot of prep in the instructions. Do it, or do most of it, especially with the dowels. They will help to hold things in place when you are putting them together. Once you get the bedframe together, that constitutes a lot of the pieces right there and the rest doesnt look so bad. Look at the instructions to see what pieces you need for the shelves and set them aside. You can do them last. Do your bookcase header next. You can attach the header to the bed frame, but I just squooshed it between the wall and the frame and it is plenty stable for me. If I ever have to move it, not having to separate the header from the frame will make that task easier.
The instructions themselves are typical of a project like this. Lots of arrows and numbers and for a middle aged guy like me that doesnt see too well, they require some squinting. You will probably overlook something, but it wont make the whole thing fall apart. Just take your time, and make sure the holes on the panels in the instructions line up with what youre doing. I am moderately handy, and I did the bedframe in a few hours in the afternoon, and the rest of it the next day from about 10am to 1pm. Its a half day project, but maybe it wont take you as long if you read this or have a second hand to help you with prep.
Ive seen some complaints from some reviewers that the product was damaged or that its particle board. Sometimes things get damaged in transit. Mine did not, plus I was careful when I pulled the panels out of the box not to bang them on anything and damage them. Yes, they are particle board, but so is most stuff at this price range. I cant imagine how much this would way if it had been all wood. The particle board is plenty thick and durable, and I didnt have any problem with it.
sturdy, but takes a while to assemble
OK, first things first. Make sure you have enough room in the bedroom to assemble this. You will not want to build this in a different room and move it, though it is possible to do since this basically is built in three stages-- the bed frame, the drawers, and the bookcase header. I just dont recommend doing that unless you have somebody to help you move it. Second, this came in two heavy boxes. Lots of styrofoam for the landfills, and plenty of cardboard for recycling. It is enormously intimidating when you start pulling out the parts and a big thing of screws and gizmos for putting it together. It comes with the needed allen wrench, but you will need a Phillips head screwdriver and a hammer for the dowels and little nails for the shelf bottoms and back of the bookcase header. The screws are self drilling so a drill is not required, but I recommend one to save time. There is a lot of prep in the instructions. Do it, or do most of it, especially with the dowels. They will help to hold things in place when you are putting them together. Once you get the bedframe together, that constitutes a lot of the pieces right there and the rest doesnt look so bad. Look at the instructions to see what pieces you need for the shelves and set them aside. You can do them last. Do your bookcase header next. You can attach the header to the bed frame, but I just squooshed it between the wall and the frame and it is plenty stable for me. If I ever have to move it, not having to separate the header from the frame will make that task easier. The instructions themselves are typical of a project like this. Lots of arrows and numbers and for a middle aged guy like me that doesnt see too well, they require some squinting. You will probably overlook something, but it wont make the whole thing fall apart. Just take your time, and make sure the holes on the panels in the instructions line up with what youre doing. I am moderately handy, and I did the bedframe in a few hours in the afternoon, and the rest of it the next day from about 10am to 1pm. Its a half day project, but maybe it wont take you as long if you read this or have a second hand to help you with prep. Ive seen some complaints from some reviewers that the product was damaged or that its particle board. Sometimes things get damaged in transit. Mine did not, plus I was careful when I pulled the panels out of the box not to bang them on anything and damage them. Yes, they are particle board, but so is most stuff at this price range. I cant imagine how much this would way if it had been all wood. The particle board is plenty thick and durable, and I didnt have any problem with it.