it took a couple of hours to join due to the allen key being so small, i found it pretty straight forward to join as the instructions were as they should be, the only enjoyable part of making the bed was the clipping in of the plastic clips as u know you've completed the task, the hardest part on fixing this bed was the gas lift as u have to really lift the bed high whilst someone else fixes the lift in place, its definetely a two person job as i would of struggled alot trying to fix the gas lift in place on my own, other than that the bed is working fine and my daughter loves it cos shes finally hidden everthing nice and neatly under the bed.