This desk was exactly what I needed for a low-footprint workspace. The shelves are rather shallow, especially the upper one, so don't plan to put a lot of items on it. The desktop shelf is *just* wide enough for a laptop and mouse. It's also a little bit high, so make sure your chair is adjustable. (I'm getting a footrest, too.) The white finish looks like a single coat of primer, basically, but I'm not bothered. In fact, if I later wanted to paint this all another color, that would be trivially easy. The whole thing assembles easily and quickly. Mine arrived in a very beat-up box and the back ledge of the desktop had taken some damage. I was able to repair it, though, and Wayfair generously offered a partial refund.