We are thrilled with this set of shelves. We wanted something on which we could put our whiskey collection, and this fits perfectly. We did not install the footrest and put the piece up against a wall. The gap created because the top shelf is deeper than the others makes it easy to reach the plug on the wall. This stands up fine without the footrest. We did not install the footrest or the stem holders. Neither is necessary. It's really important to pay attention to the front and the back when installing the shelves. Other than that, assembling is super-easy. Perfect for our needs, and Wayfair made ordering and shipping a breeze.