This item is not easy to put together by just one person, in fact, I ordered several months ago, and still do not have it together. I've ordered quite a few furniture items I've had to assemble (including a movable kitchen cart), and have always been able to do it myself, but not this one. Someone has to hold two pieces together, a shelf and a brace, while another one is fitted onto those. Literally impossible to do by oneself. The color of the item was fine, and if I ever get it together I might like it, but right now I'm not very fond of this shelf unit.