I use this outdoors and it's exposed to the elements. It's not waterproof and started to get moldy. I bought some clear sealant and sprayed it down which helped a bit, but it's still not 100%. If this was indoors or in a covered outdoor location I think it would hold up better. It wasn't terribly difficult to put together once I got the hang of it, but the directions are not the best - and there's not that many parts, so it should be easier. It's pretty spacious and fits my plants well. I don't have anything hanging on the top bar, but it seems to be sturdy.