I recently bought this storage cabinet to use as a linen closet, and I'm extremely pleased with it, considering its price point. In fact, I liked it so much that I bought a second one to sit right next to the first.
The cabinet was easy to put together. I've constructed more than 30 pieces of DIY furniture over the years from various retailers, including Target, Ikea, World Market, Overstock, etc., and I have to say that I was extremely impressed with this cabinet from Sauder. I would rank it in my personal Top 5 for a variety of reasons.
First, the instructions were clear and easy to follow, especially for someone who has experience putting together DIY furniture. The instructions even included tips on making minor adjustments to the hinges (loosening the mounting screws) so that you can attach them into the cabinet walls quickly and easily. These "hinge adjustment tips" also help you position the doors once the cabinet is done so that there's no gap between them. Sauder also has a ton of instructional YouTube videos that help with this -- I'd highly recommend checking them out as a reference before putting the cabinet together. All the hardware is separated and labeled in a handy plastic bubble sheet. And, all of the pre-drilled screw holes are in the right spot. Everything just fits. You don't have to bend or shove or warp anything to get it to align properly.
I'm a petite/small-framed 5'4" female, and aside from having my husband bring the shipping box (110 pounds) inside the house, I took it from there and put the cabinet together by myself with no assistance. It took about an hour and required only a hammer and a Philips head screwdriver (I'd recommend using a cordless/electric screwdriver, which will speed up the process considerably).
I do want to share a DIY furniture tip or "shortcut" I learned years ago for any other small-framed people who are putting this unit together alone. When attaching door hinges to a cabinet, it's easier for me to lay the cabinet on its side (rather than upright, as the directions invariably recommend) and then attach the hinges from there, along the floor. No balancing or holding up the door. That approach has worked every time for years and definitely worked with this Sauder cabinet as well.
Both of the units I ordered had a few tiny nicks in the finish here and there, but not on every piece. I just used a dark brown marker to fill them in, and now you can't even tell. I think these minor scratches could be totally avoided if Sauder would just put a single sheet of newsprint paper between the individual pieces in the shipping box, like Ikea does. As it stands, the pieces are well protected by the shipping box, but they're not necessarily protected from *each other* inside the box.
All of the cabinet's interior shelves are adjustable and hold a maximum weight of 25 pounds. They are a very tight fit, though. I agree with other reviewers who said that the interior shelves are cut about 1/8" - 1/16" too wide. However, I got them to fit with a little pushing/tapping. The door handles look sleek and modern and are a cinch to attach. The cabinet's Dakota Oak finish is a lovely espresso color -- not quite as dark as Ikea's espresso-colored furniture, though, for anyone who might be wondering.
Overall, I'm really pleased with how easy this cabinet was to construct, the extra tips on adjusting the hinges, and the appearance of the finished product. As I mentioned above, I liked the first cabinet so much that I bought a second one to sit right next to it. Constructing the second cabinet was just as easy as the first. Together, they're fantastic, and I couldn't be happier. I highly recommend this cabinet and would not hesitate to buy it again or buy another piece from Sauder. It's so much nicer than what you'd get from Ikea.
[Also, side note: Because of the depth of this cabinet (17") and the fact that all the interior shelves are adjustable, it would be great as a dollhouse apartment for adult collectors of Blythe, Pullip, Barbie, etc.!]
| Brand | Sauder |
|---|---|
| Color | Salt Oak Finish |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Storage |
| Product Dimensions | 17"D x 23.25"W x 71.13"H |
| Special Feature | Adjustable Shelf |
| Mounting Type | Freestanding |
| Room Type | Home Office |
| Door Style | Flat Panel |
| Included Components | Materials, Hardware, Assembly Instructions |
| Finish Type | Salt Oak Finish |
| Size | L: 23.31" x W: 17.01" W x H: 70.91" |
| Number of Shelves | 5 |
| Number of Pieces | 1 |
| Item Weight | 97 Pounds |
| Base Type | Rectangle |
| Installation Type | Freestanding |
| Top Material Type | Engineered Wood |
| Back Material Type | Engineered Wood |
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Number of Compartments | 5 |
| Item Weight | 97 pounds |
| Country of Origin | Thailand |
| Item model number | 422426 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Weight | 97 Pounds |
