I'm doubling this dresser as the changing table in our nursery as well. I got a 3 sided changing pad to protect the baby's head from the edging and the standard size fits just fine, along with a basket to hold diaper changing essentials. It was not hard to put together and the drawers glide very smoothly, (which is sometimes hard to come by). There were a couple of dents upon delivery, but nothing to complain terribly about really. We did not experience any heavy chemical smells, though as a precaution we did let the pieces sit out and had the fan going for a few days before assembling it. The grey color is just as expected in person, very happy with this purchase!