It comes totally put together and ready to hang. I wanted to use pre-bought baskets with cotton inner linings. They were just a little too big. So I soaked them for 24 hours in water and then let them drain and placed them into the slots of this storage shelf. They dried to fit. I washed fabric liners and took the baskets out when dry and put on the liners and they fit together beautifully. I am delighted and will hang it in my new entry.