Wanted this for my entryway, for storage and a place to sit to take shoes off or whatnot. I put it together all by myself and I am no engineer--example--the storage seat top came with these metal hinges that for the life of me I could not figure out SO I just did not put them on and instead the seat lids are just normal...you lift them up and down and no problem. The seats are perfectly strong enough to sit on, feels sturdy....not wobbly at all. The inside storage area bottom is just a lightweight material so it can only hold light items. This piece of furniture is pretty petite and on the small size....so if you have a small space GREAT! Thats what I needed!