How to Start a Jigsaw Puzzle: A Beginner's Guide
There's something wonderfully simple about a jigsaw puzzle: you have a pile of pieces, a picture to recreate, and nowhere else you need to be.
But if you're new to puzzling, that first pile of pieces can feel a little intimidating.
Where do you start? Do you build the edges first? Should you sort by color? And what exactly are you supposed to do with all those pieces that seem to have absolutely nothing in common?
The good news: there's no single right way to do a puzzle.
Here are a few tips to make your first puzzling experience a little easier—and a lot more enjoyable.
1. Find a comfortable place to puzzle
Before opening the box, give yourself enough space to spread out.
A dining table, coffee table or puzzle board all work well. The most important thing is having a surface where you can see your pieces and comfortably reach the puzzle.
And if you don't finish in one sitting? That's part of the fun. Leave it out and come back to it later.
2. Take a look at the picture
Before touching a single piece, spend a minute looking at the image.
Notice the major colors, shapes and sections. Is there a bright flower? A person's face? A distinctive animal? A large area of sky?
These visual landmarks will eventually help you figure out where individual pieces belong.
3. Start with the edge—or don't
One of the most common puzzle strategies is to find the edge pieces and build the border first.
It's satisfying, gives you a clear workspace and establishes the size of the finished puzzle.
But if you find yourself naturally drawn to a particular part of the image, start there instead.
There's no puzzle police.
4. Sort pieces into groups
Once you've separated the edge pieces, try grouping the remaining pieces by color, texture or visual pattern.
You might create piles for:
- Sky
- Water
- Greenery
- Animals
- Buildings
- Bright colors
- Dark colors
- Pieces you're absolutely convinced belong somewhere—but have no idea where
That last pile is completely legitimate.
5. Look at the shape, not just the picture
When you get stuck, stop looking at the image for a moment and look at the pieces themselves.
Pay attention to:
- Number of tabs
- Number of holes
- Shape of the edges
- Direction of the tabs
- Unusual cuts
Especially with wooden puzzles, the shape of each piece can become part of the solving experience.
6. Don't force a piece
If a piece almost fits, it probably doesn't fit.
A satisfying puzzle solve should feel satisfying—not like you're trying to convince two pieces to get along.
Move on and come back later.
7. Take breaks
One of the best things about puzzling is that you don't have to finish immediately.
Step away. Make some tea. Go for a walk. Come back tomorrow.
Often, a piece that seemed impossible suddenly becomes obvious.
8. Remember that the point isn't just finishing
Yes, completing a puzzle feels great.
But the experience of puzzling is just as important.
It's time away from a screen. It's something tactile. It's an opportunity to focus on one small thing for a while.
And sometimes that's exactly what we need.
Ready to get curious?
Whether you're brand new to puzzling or simply looking for your next project, explore Curiosity's wooden jigsaw puzzles and find an image that makes you want to sit down and start.