This bench is just what I needed for my foyer. I will use it to sit on when putting on and taking off boots in the winter. I have a large rubber boot tray that fits perfectly under this bench so it will be out of the way.

The bench appears to have no MDF (aka "particle board") in it. All components are solid wood. The top is made of strips of wood the full thickness of the top, glued together. It looks very similar to a solid hardware floor, and in fact matches the hardwood floors throughout my house.

The bench was easy to assemble other than one bolt being a bit difficult to start. Assembling it on a sofa is a lot easier to do than doing it on the floor as indicated in the instructions (no squatting required). The bench appears to be very sturdy.