We chose this cabinet because it is the correct height for a bedside lamp to sit on and shine down onto a book for comfortable bedtime reading.
From our experience, to assemble the cabinet, you will need:
A long handled screwdriver
A soft hammer
A flat bladed screwdriver
A pencil
+ an average level of DIY ability.
The instructions don't mention glue but really the whole thing would be a lot stronger if it were glued together during construction.
We didn't follow the slightly intimidating instruction sheet, just used common sense. It took a handy chap one and a half hours to make it in a careful and leisurely fashion. We did buy two and the second one only took 45 minutes - this time a power screwdriver was very helpful, and this second time we glued it all together.
Firstly he laid it all out on the floor to check through. We decided against using the enclosed round black decorative studs as we liked the look of the finished article without them.
Unluckily for us, when we unpacked this bedside cabinet one small part was cracked and broken away from the piece. However we glued it together successfully; it was part of the drawer so not too important. I read from other reviewers that there wouldn't be a problem getting a replacement part but it seemed easier just to mend it there and then.
It is a rough and ready item, as even after careful attention some joints just won't fit well, they gape a little. It was declared less easy to make than some Swedish flat pack furniture can be. It's not MDF though, being proper wood, dark pine, apart from the back panel, and the black metal fittings are attractive. I was happy as they perfectly matched a desk I had bought some while ago; do take a look at the image I have posted above of the two items together.
Now complete and in position I am really pleased with the cabinet. I gave it a generous treatment with beeswax polish. The cabinet is heavy and solid; no reason why it shouldn't stay where it is being serviceable and attractive to look at for years to come. Even with the niggles I have described I still think it is worth 5 *s as it was so inexpensive and yet when made really looks to be worth more.