We were looking for a barrier for our dog across a 53" space flanked by a wall edge and a stairpost that was slightly off-set (not directly straight across each other). I looked into stand-alone gates but those were bulky, did not fit the area right, and were expensive. We finally found this gate and my husband mounted it onto the wall/post without issues. I try not to use it all the time (as its a little bit finicky to unlatch it, definitely not a one-hand task) and also because of the bottom rail that you have to step over. I tripped on it my first time over so I think it can be a safety issue for people not used to it (guests, etc). However, we had mounted it higher (4" off the ground) in order to clear the baseboard. Luckily for us, we just wanted this barrier to a portion of the house but can go around through another entryway with a door for more frequent use. I think if I had to use this gate daily I would not want to be fiddling with the latch all the time. I think if it were mounted all the way on the ground, I could step over it (I'm 5'6"). I originally wanted something made of wood but after receiving this, I was happy with it since it doesn't look very cheap and flimsy. Great price.