We actually bought this for our cat so he could safely climb onto the windowsill he likes without first jumping up on our chairs and desks. Guess what, he LOVES IT! It’s wide enough so that there is room on one side for plants, while the other side is free for him to climb up and down. We bought it in the black finish and overall it looks very elegant and is a nice addition to the room. What other reviewers are saying about the weathered look of the step stool is true - it’s purposely scratched, pitted, and dinged up for an antique look. I do not quite care for that aspect of the design, although I can see how some people would like it. From far though, you can’t see the weathering and overall it looks great and is very functional.