Sauder HomePlus Basic Storage Cupboard Cabinet, Dakota Oak

Here are a few things - - We assembled the unit on a carpet. We had it laid down and followed the instructions on paper as well as the you tube video link provided on the instruction manual. - When we were assembling the U shaped base, we realized that if we aligned 3 of the screw holes, the 4th would not. So we used a power tool to create a slightly shifted hole. We did not need to use a drillbit . Just used the screw itself to do that. - Putting in the doors using the hinges - that was the trickier part - the doors are a bit mis-aligned from the top but only slightly mis-aligned at the bottom but luckily its not too visible from a distance. - There is a gap between the doors from where you can see about 1/2 inch of the shelving. I think we need to adjust the hinges to close that gap. It is not looking bad though. - The unit is located in our dining room and fits in nicely. It was a bit wobby until we added the shelves and dumped some heavy items on the bottom shelf. - After the storage items are loaded ( I am using it as a pantry ) it is steady and has weight and our cats are having a great time using the top of the unit as a hideaway. The dining table is working as a launch pad. lol - Note that the holes they made on the cardboard for the back from where to slip out the metal strip to attach to the wall was not in the middle so the strip comes out twisted. It would not be easy to get that comfortably attached to the wall.

I bought a Hodedah and had to return it for several reasons. I bought two, assembled one, and returned both with one unopened. In the past, I have found that Sauder products, although pretty cheap in quality (and price) for the money are fairly sturdy, have decent instructions, are fairly easy to put together, and are worthwhile. This cabinet, of which I bought two, is a little better than what I remember Sauder cabinets to be. It seems they have made some improvements over the years. I don't like the styrofoam in the packing, but it was packed well. Upon opening the carton the instructions were on top as was the bundle of parts, each part sealed in its labeled cell. Easy to do an inventory of pieces and parts. You get the exact number of parts needed in the instructions with the exception if 1" nails (tacks) for mounting the chipboard (cardboard) back of which you need 40, but they give you some extra. The only tools needed are a small hammer and a standard Phillips head screwdriver. The predrilled holes were all where they were supposed to be and in proper alignment. I put together one cabinet by myself and with the other I had help. It goes pretty quickly if you're doing it all by yourself, but much more quickly if you have another person working with you. The hardest part for one person alone is hanging the doors, but it's doable. You just position the top hinge and partially screw in the mounting screws. then you do the middle hinge, then the bottom hinge, all partially screwed in. Once all are on, then tighten all of the mounting screws. I think bottom to top on the tightening is best, but it doesn't really matter. With two people one holds the door in place while the other screws in the hinges. Much easier than holding the doors yourself while screwing them on, but it's not essential that you have help. For all of the rest of the busywork, it just goes twice as fast with two people doing it. It pays to also have some damp paper towels to wipe off the styrofoam dust that clings to the surfaces of all of the pieces. I like to wipe them down before assembly and touch it up afterward, but many people might not care. I would have preferred that the back of the cabinet was particle board like the rest of the cabinet rather than heavy chipboard and that the top was finished. It is made with the assumption that the top will not be visible, so that surface is unfinished. If, however, you have it in a room where you can look down on it at all the unfinished top will stand out and reveal that it is a cheap piece of furniture. The door hinges have three adjustments so you can get them positioned well once it is all assembled and in place. That is a bit of a chore, but not any more so for this cabinet as it is for any other piece of furniture of any quality that allows for door adjustment. The fact that it has the adjustment is a plus. So for a self-assembly cabinet in this class of furniture, Sauder is probably the best you're going to find. This goes for any other furniture they make. In the past, I have purchased and built various Sauder products and they are always equal to or better than the same/similar products manufactured by their competitors. That was my experience with this cabinet as well.

The cabinet overall is a great product and easy to assemble. The finish is good and easy to clean. The variable choices for shelf designation is great, offering lots of choices. There are a couple of things that could be improved. 1) the backing of the cabinet is made of thin cardboard that is tacked on and does not provide any structural strength and if items are placed hard against could break. 2) The doors have spring loaded hinges that keep them closed but in my opinion are a bit week and should of had a magnetic catch at the top of each door.

We bought three of these for storage of various items. They have plenty of room for us, and I also like the adjustable shelves. We only wished that they were just a little bit taller. Still having issues trying to get the doors to fit closer together when they are closed.

It takes a bit of time to assemble. Perhaps for a novice, the hinges require a bit of extra time. I am a novice.