When I was looking at this table to buy, the comments on the assembling almost me not buy it. When I got the table, though, the direction were basic and uncomplicated, through deduction. The table has to be assembled from the top up.1. Place the top face down with the screw holes showing.2. There are 20 screws and two points of assembly require eight, the last piece takes four so decide which eight you will use to bolt the legs onto the table top. The black ones are probably better, but the gray ones will work, too. Look at the picture to see which direction the table legs should be turned.3. After you tighten the legs onto the base, using the Allen ranch, bolt the ring onto the inside of the legs. Don't panic if the ring doesn't sit snuggly and line-up perfectly. You'll need eight screws here, too. The first screw is the most difficult to start. I would put the second screw directly across from the first one to help with alignment. As you move from leg to leg, you're going to have use your upper body strength to sorta hug the legs and bring them together, while you wrestle the screw into holes. I found it easy to start the screws with my fingers, then use the Allen wrench in the upright, and lastly, flip the wrench and give it the final tightening with the bent end. I think it's better if you get the ring started with all of the screws, but leave loose, then go back around and put the final tightening.4. Finally, use the last four screws for installing the X part. Here, you're going the have to really hug the legs again to bring them together, after the first screw is started. I saw comments about how their table legs wouldn't align, and here's why, you have to put some muscle into. Get the screws started and do a final tightening, while you 'embrace' your new table.It's really not very difficult and if the screws are applied correctly, it's a pretty good little table. I'm using my table as a base for a piece of marble I inherited when I bought an old house.