My boyfriend and I needed a bench for the entryway of our new apartment. We were always just coming in and throwing our stuff on the floor by the front door. We are runners, and wanted a place to quickly change shoes and clothes. After searching through pages of benches, we decided on this one. We wanted one made of solid wood that would be sturdy enough to support two people. After careful thought, we decided, because of where it would be located, to get a bench that opened at the top instead of in front.  It's a great bench for storing running shoes and jackets. Exactly what we were looking for! He had it fully assembled in just a couple of hours.