This is a very sturdy set of stairs. The stain is very beautiful. I ordered the deep-dark walnut stairs. These stairs are a great investment and will last forever. My cat is getting older and having trouble jumping on the bed and I thought I would give her a 'little help'. She was a little hesitant about the stairs at first; sniffing them, constantly and as other reviewers noted, the stairs had a peculiar smell - I think it was the wood/carpet combo. A quick spray of Febreze solved this problem. Now, my cat doesn't want me or my husband to touch her stairs. (LOL) She goes up and down the stairs and even perches on one of the steps from time to time.