The instructions are basically worthless.  Pictures don't match what is packaged, so trying to figure out what goes where using the instuctions is a waste of time.  I've put lots of pieces of furniture together, so I finally ditched the instructions and just used my common sense.  If you've never assembled anything, this is NOT the way to start.  If you're pretty handy, you'll eventually figure it out.  Once it's done, it's sturdy.