How to Solve a Jigsaw Puzzle for Beginners (2024)

Want to learn how to solve a jigsaw puzzle? This blog offers a helpful step-by-step guide that teaches beginner puzzlers how to solve a jigsaw puzzle.

Working on a jigsaw puzzle is fun and relaxing, offering unique brain health benefits. Puzzles can also test your patience, but the right puzzle-solving strategies can help you enjoy the process even more.

New to solving puzzles? Keep reading for Completing the Puzzle’s comprehensive guide on how to solve a puzzle for beginners.

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How to Solve a Jigsaw Puzzle for Beginners (1)

Step One: Choose the Right Puzzle

If you are new to jigsaw puzzles, the best way to learn how to solve a puzzle is to start with a puzzle for beginners. Choose a puzzle that has no more than 500 pieces.

Additionally, look for a puzzle that has a single recognizable element, such as an animal or a house. These puzzles are great for beginners because it’s easy to segment them and work one section at a time.

Starting off with an easier puzzle will help you learn the basics and get the hang of how to solve a puzzle. As you get better at solving jigsaw puzzles, you can move on to abstract art or landscape puzzles, which are often difficult for beginners.

Step Two: Prep Your Space and Organize Your Pieces

After you choose your jigsaw puzzle, the next step is to prepare your puzzling space. It’s important to have a clean and sturdy surface to work on. A table is best, but you can also create a makeshift workspace by using any flat surface that’s big enough for your completed puzzle.

Portable puzzle tables and puzzle mats are helpful if you don’t have a dining table that’s large enough for your puzzle. Check out the best puzzle accessories here.

Next, gather a few containers that you can sort your pieces into. Start by sorting the edge pieces away from the non-edge pieces. Next, sort your non-edge puzzle pieces by color, with each color in its own container.

Step Three: Assemble the Edge

The easiest way to learn how to solve a puzzle is by starting with the edge pieces. The edge of your puzzle offers a perimeter to work within and helps you see the bigger picture.

Plus, when you snap the last edge piece into place, you’ll feel a sense of victory that will fuel you to complete the rest of the puzzle.

To put the edge together, simply try fitting different pieces together until you find a match. Continue this trial and error process until the entire edge is completed.

Step Four: Assemble the Recognizable Elements

Next, turn to the non-edge pieces and start working on the recognizable elements of your puzzle. Beginner puzzles will have one key recognizable element, while more challenging puzzles will have multiple.

If you’re working on a puzzle for beginners, this is the part of the puzzle that is the central aspect of the artwork. For example, in the Frida Kahlo Pink puzzle, Frida is the recognizable element.

The recognizable element is the easiest place to start because the pieces are often distinct and easy to identify. It also serves as an anchor point for the rest of the puzzle, making it easier to solve.

Working on one recognizable element at a time is a great way to learn how to solve a puzzle because it reduces overwhelm. You can prioritize one portion of the puzzle pieces and put the rest to the side.

As with the edge, simply start trying to match pieces together until you complete the entire recognizable element.

Step Five: Assemble the Outer Elements

Once your recognizable elements are assembled, you can focus on the outer elements to solve the puzzle. The outer elements are the background of the puzzle artwork.

Focus on one section of the puzzle at a time. One easy way to complete the outer elements is to work on sections by color.

Eventually, the outer elements will connect to the edge of the puzzle and the recognizable element. As you continue to make matches, you will soon see how the entire puzzle comes together.

Solve Puzzles Like a Pro

The more you work on puzzles, the better you will become at solving them. However, keep in mind that solving puzzles is not a race. The purpose of learning how to solve a puzzle is to enjoy the process and reap the brain benefits.

At Completing the Puzzle, we encourage you to start with great puzzles for beginners. Each time you complete a puzzle, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. As you get the hang of working on a jigsaw puzzle, you can advance to more challenging puzzles.

Are you new to the world of puzzling? This round-up of blog posts is chock-full of handy tips for puzzling.

  • Jigsaw Puzzling Tips: Top 7 Tips When You're Stuck on a Puzzle
  • Jigsaw Puzzling Strategy: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
  • How to Avoid Jigsaw Neck + 4 Easy Stretches for Neck Strain

Let us know in the comments! What other tips should new puzzlers keep in mind?

How to Solve a Jigsaw Puzzle for Beginners (2024)
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