You build the stand upside down. Place the top shelf upside down on the cardboard sheet or the styrofoam sheet. Next you TRY to screw in the rods. Only hard part. You then place 4 legs on the rods then glass and repeat. When you get to the legs that will sit on the floor there’s a washer and bolt to tighten on the rods and hold the unit together. This is when you’ll see if you have the rods seated on the top shelf. I had to back some of the rods out and and reseat them. Small thing. I like the shelf.