Materials are pretty cheap but that was to be expected a bit with the low price. Got this desk when it was on sale though so I was hoping for a little better quality than something I'd slap together from Walmart or Target. It's not hard to build and it's nice when it's finished, but again -- not the best wood: there were about two areas where the white wood had chipped. Luckily, it was hidden when the desk was assembled but I would have been upset if the damage was in more prominent of an area. Lots of space on the desktop despite the hutch. Greatly enjoy the design. You will need a small Phillips head screw driver and flat head. You really only use the little tool they give you for two steps. And be careful of the small wooden pegs when you put the desk together -- they snap easy. One of mine had snapped off inside a desk piece and there was no way to get it out. That area of the hutch was wobbly but once the desk was completed, it was reinforced by other parts so it turned out ok.