Easy to put together. Metal bars have slots to fit into, was able to put together in under an hour. The biggest problem I faced was the weight of the box (148lbs) and finding help to carry it. The bed is extremely stable. Doesnt not squeak (many others on Wayfair do) and actually was the best quality for my dollar. Wood is real and seems to have a plastic coating or a thick varnish. Directions were confusing so it was easier to just match the pieces to the diagram and compare rather than use the directions. The pieces are lettered A-S all while the endsjoints put together are numbered. (See photo for snippet of directions)