easiest assembly ever and toddler approved
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was graciously supplied this item in exchange for an honest review from Stellar Product Testing Panel. My reviews are always my own opinion and are not biased due to the circumstances! For those of you who don't want to read a big review: I am very impressed by this little storage/bookcase combo from Little Seeds, and I think it's a wonderful addition to any toddler's bedroom or playroom. It's the perfect size for a young child. The only negative thing about putting this bookcase together was having to do it with a toddler underfoot, closely supervising the entire process and trying to make it as hard as possible, lol. Besides that added layer of difficulty, this has got to be the easiest furniture item I've ever put together. I didn't closely look at the dimensions beforehand, so I was a little surprised by the smaller size, but honestly, I prefer it. It's the perfect size for my daughter, who all too often rips books out of our adult-sized bookshelf while looking for her favorite one. I love the idea of her having her own bookshelf that I can rotate every week! I can definitely speak to the durability of this. Upon realizing I was putting together some shiny new item, my daughter.. being the 2 year old she is.. immediately decided to test its structural integrity by attempting to climb it the moment my back was turned. It did not tip over or crack, and it was only half put together! All in all, it took me about 20 minutes to put together. If I had been alone with no child slowing things down and had an electric screwdriver, I could have done it in about 5 minutes. It only needed about six pegs and maybe a dozen screws. Some of the wooden pegs weren't as tight as I would have liked, so I added a little glue just for peace of mind since I know this is small enough that I'm never going to need to disassemble it. I'm impressed with the way they designed the shelf. It's supported partially by a very clever method of joining two pieces of wood together without screws by wedging them together. I've never seen that method used before to support a shelf, so you don't have to worry about heavier items causing it to sag. It's also not tall enough that you have to worry about it tipping over and hurting your child if they try to climb on it. Considering my daughter is taller than it, and the base is about twice as deep as the top, I don't see it tipping over easily. I love how simple and elegant the design is. You can leave it pure white for an easy-to-clean finish, or let your child express their creativity with stickers, drawings, or paint. You could even paint it yourself to match your child's room. Personally, I really like the clean white look. The little window-shaped cutouts make it look like a dollhouse or a castle. I'm actually considering putting chalkboard paint on the roof and sides so my daughter can draw on it. I can also see myself having fun buying dollhouse furniture for this. It's small enough that you can clear the shelf in a few seconds and let your child pretend it's a little house for their dolls. During the building process, my daughter already managed to put a scuff on it while holding a screwdriver, which I was able to remove with one swipe of a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Considering that it's built using methods very similar to affordable assemble yourself furniture, with screws and pegs, the end result doesn't look cheap at all. I actually think it looks really nice and modern. I've never had an actual toy box for my kids because I've heard horror stories about kids getting trapped or hurting their fingers. I really like the idea that my daughter has her own space for books and toys without having to worry about opening and closing a toy box. For my kids, who are neurodivergent, if they can't see something, it's like it doesn't exist. They won't go searching for it. Because of that, we always utilize open shelving and keep things visible through toy and book rotation. It's cut down on clutter, and they always seem to play with things more when their items are refreshed regularly. I wasn't sure what to think when it arrived because I wasn't sure where I had room to put it. But after building it and seeing how much I love it, I realized it's small enough that you can pretty much find a place for it anywhere. In my opinion, it's the absolute perfect size for a toddler. All the corners are rounded, so you don't have to worry about them getting hurt. The screws are visible, but if you tighten them fully, the heads are recessed, so little ones can't access any hardware. There are no pinch points and nowhere for little fingers to get trapped. Overall, I am very impressed by this adorable bookcase. My little girl is going to have her own room soon, and now I definitely feel the urge to check out more of this brand's offerings. I'm hoping they have other bedroom pieces that match the same charming vibe as this bookcase! TLDR; Cute, sturdy, easy to assemble, and perfectly sized for toddlers. This is one of those rare kid furniture pieces that looks great, functions well, and gives parents a little extra peace of mind. Highly recommend!!