Putting it together by yourself is possible but I went really slow and it took hours. I would recommend putting the drawers etc together before putting the top on for sure. You definitely need a small electric drill (like the 20 rechargeable angled kind) - holes are pre done BUT the pieces you are attaching pre drilled holes to are not even started 90 of the time. Had one drawer with a sizable gouge on the front of it but that was the only damage.