This shelf was packaged very well with lots of wrapping inside a long box. My husband put it together with only a tiny bit of help from me at the end. It is quite sturdy & well made for a shelf you assemble. We also purchased the Layla Storage Bench in mahogany but it has a slight red undertone so it doesn't match perfectly but looks pretty together since the woods are not close enough to be noticeable. The best thing about this shelf is hanging it on the wall - it has a long wood piece that you center & hang & then the shelf slides on it. There are also two holes lower on the shelf that get screwed into the wall for extra support. We then took nails and gently hammered them into the holes in the shelf, took the nails & shelf off, put the screws where the nail holes were & voila! Easy on the wall!!!