Although assembly wasn't entirely straightforward, after about 3 hours, I was able to put the headboard together solo. All the pieces arrived, with a few extra screws and nails to ensure against loss or malformed hardware. (One of the nails had a faulty tip, but I had plenty left over to replace it.)\n\nThe back panel is heavy cardboard, not wood. It easily attaches (via nails) to the pressed-wood framework. The pictures in the Wal-Mart item description made it appear like the back panel was wood or pressed wood. Although the cardboard was a bit of a surprise, its use made the headboard less heavy than if a wooden back panel were employed. However, cardboard leaves the resilience of the headboard open to question\n\nI'm using it as a freestanding headboard, not attached to my adjustable bed. It is perfectly stable without having to anchor it to the wall, even though it's standing on wall-to-wall carpet.\n\nOne design recommendation: a shelf or box secured behind the headboard, to hold a charging brick.