Putting this together was definitely a two (wo)man job. The directions on the head/footboards at one point told us to put the dowels in on the wrong side, but we figured it out. When it comes to the side where the ladder is in the product picture, the assembly instructions are opposite, but we still made it work. The wood is not smooth, but a rough painted wood. I REALLY wish the screw heads were painted the same color as the bed. It would look so much more cohesive. Once everything was put together, the bed feels super solid and sturdy which I like. It has a STRONG smell the first few days, so be aware of that if you have smell sensitivity.