The storage bench has worked out really well for us. We like the design and the material it is made of. This item does resolve the issue of shoes getting piled up in the hallway. There is a space for only 4 pairs of shoes--which is a limitation of sorts--but the adjacent baskets can also be used for storage. We plan to get the entryway wall storage unit that goes with this piece as well. The assembly instructions were easy to follow and the assembly process was not too difficult.