This assembled to become a very sturdy piece. Directions were thorough. Hardware and glue were included. Fasteners were a combination of bolts, screws, and wood dowels. It took me approximately 2 hours to assemble. My only criticism is the assembly of the back. There were no pre-drilled holes in the back of the sides, top or horizontal panels - the case - for screwing the back on. Only the back itself was drilled. It is easy to split the case panels when screwing the back on. I recommend having an electric drill with a suitably small bit for pre-drilling holes for the screws. Other than that, value and design are very good. I changed the knobs to match other black furniture I have in the same room. The item looks nice and works well in a bedroom or smaller space.