If there was an option for half stars, I would have rated this 3-1/2 rather than 4 (I didnt think it warranted a lower 3 star rating, but given the cons, it also doesnt really warrant 4 stars). The bed was delivered fairly quickly, and I had purchased both the bed frame as well as the headboard, so both were delivered together, a major plus.
Now, for my review, Ill list pros and cons below.
First, the pros:
**All components were very well packaged.
**All parts were shipped, nothing was missing.
**Once set up, the headboard and frame are really quite heavy and feel sturdy.
**Bed (and headboard) does look exactly as shown in the ad.
**Despite someone asking in comments if the bedframe on the side of the bed opposite the drawers is left open, and being told that it was, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a sideboard IS included to close off the side of the bed where there are no drawers.
**Even though it is recommended that two people are needed to build the bed, I was able to do it on my own (Im a 411, 63-yr-old female). It did take me a long time, but I took LOTS of breaks and separated it out into two days to complete it. I could have done it in a few hours in one day if Id been more determined.
**The instructions for both the headboard and the bed frame were easy to follow (see caveat below, however, about parts listings).
Now, the cons:
**The biggest con: The slats for this bed are EXTREMELY flimsy (thin, soft wood). Im worried that at some point in the future they might start to failand Im not a big person (115 lbs at most). If a child were bouncing around on the bed, I suspect that the slats could easily be compromised. I imagine that this could be remedied by placing a thin sheet of plywood over them, but for the price one is paying for this bed, this shouldnt even be a requirement. The slats should definitely have been made with sturdier wood.
**Halfway through the instructions on setting up the frame it says (paraphrasing) If you purchased the matching headboard, now is the time to attach the frame. Go to the instructions for the headboard for details. Butthere was nothing in the headboard instructions on how to attach the two. I did manage to finally figure it out by comparing drawings in both sets of instructions. An oversight on the manufacturers part.
**Even though the frame was well packed for shipping, there were MANY chips, dings, and gouges throughout. Fortunately in my case, all were in areas that were hidden once assembled, and none of the damage was severe enough to affect the frame structure. All damage appears to have happened pre-shipping, as everything was well protected in foam/cardboard.
**The hardware leaves absolutely no room for error. Most manufacturers will include an extra part for each screw, cam lock, bolt, etc., but this one doesnt. The amount needed is exactly what you getso if a piece of hardware is defective or missing (which has happened to me several times over the years) you would have to contact the manufacturer and request a new piece before being able to finish assembly. Thankfully for this one, I received all hardware and all fit adequately.
**In the instructions, it defines exactly how many parts for all hardware are required, so you can easily check ahead of time to make sure nothing is missing. However, for the bed frame, there is no listit just jumps straight to assembly directions, making it difficult to ensure that all parts were included.
**Also for the hardware: A couple of the different types of screws were in separate bags, but for the majority of the hardware itself (cam locks, bolts, etc. and there was a LOT) everything was simply tossed together in one giant bag. Its a minor detail, but adds to frustration when one is trying to assemble the product.
**The materials used: This bed is listed as made from manufactured wood, which Ive had in other furniture pieces Ive bought over the years, and generally, in those products Ive bought in the past, appears as a solid, compact composite of wood glued together, almost resembling a real wood core. Unfortunately, the type of manufactured wood with this bed looks more like particle board with a veneer on top. As a result, some of the screws (such as the ones holding the drawer runners, which tighten into the unfinished edges of the drawers) dont tighten fully, since there particle board aspect doesnt give enough solidity for them to grip well.
Finally, not a con, just a heads-up: This bed does take some time to put together, mainly because there are so many small steps involved. I took my time with it, so if you are patient, it doesnt come across as an indomitable task.
