This was so much easier to put together than I thought. I did it by myself, but it’d be easier with someone to lift the panels with you to lock them into place. It has extra space on the sides because it’s meant to have your bedding tucked into it for a really nice, neat look. It comes with all the tools and hardware needed to put together. My favorite part (and the reason I purchased this specific bed) is the fact that it has headboard holes at the top, hidden out of sight, but there when I want to put a headboard in and switch a different one out. For that it’s worth its weight in gold.