This bed is solid wood but a soft wood. The color I ordered was grey. Once unboxed, I was unhappy with the color, it was much darker than I expected, so I sanded it and brushed it with diluted white paint, making it a whitewash look. It turned out beautifully. It was moderately easy to put together. The small Allen wrench makes for tedious work. But once together, it is sturdy and classy. I am pleased with this purchase.