SO sturdy!  I honestly think my 6 year old could sit on it and it wouldn't budge or bend.  We could not find the perfect bed side table due to space constraints, so we opted for an end table in our guest room.  This is a beautiful addition to our narrow room!  The finish and color is exactly as pictured (we chose brown), the texture is natural wood grain but still creates a smooth surface.  It would be a perfect chair/couch height too, if you are in the market for a living room end table.