The Beginner's Starter Kit | What You Actually Need

One thing I've noticed in the puzzle world lately is that beginner puzzlers can sometimes feel like they need a whole setup before they even start. You open social media and suddenly people have giant puzzle tables, fancy sorting systems, special lamps, rolling carts, box-top holders, and enough accessories to make it look like puzzling requires a full home renovation project. And listen... as someone who puzzles basically every day, I love that stuff. I own a lot of it. Some of it genuinely makes puzzling easier and more comfortable when it becomes a regular hobby, or in my case a job.

But here's the thing: You absolutely do not need all of that to get started. At the end of the day, puzzling is still one of the simplest hobbies out there. Most of us started with a puzzle spread across the dining room table and whatever random household items we could repurpose along the way. So if you're brand new to puzzling, welcome! I hope you find some inspiration and are excited for you new hobby. Here's what I think you actually need to get started.

The Quilt Workshop by Eurographics

1. A Puzzle You're Excited About

This is honestly the biggest thing that matters when you are puzzling. Do you like the puzzle? Do you get excited to do it? Is the puzzle of a topic that interests you? Don't overthink piece count, brand, or whether it's "good enough" for a serious puzzler. Pick something that makes you excited to sit down and work on it. (If you want some beginner friendly puzzles - we have some great options)

One of the most common things I hear from people is, "I tried a puzzle once and didn't like it." And sure, maybe puzzling isn't for everyone. But when I start asking questions about the puzzle they tried, it's often something that looks incredibly difficult. Maybe it was all black and white. Maybe it was a repeating pattern. Maybe it was a giant sky or ocean scene with very little variation. For some puzzlers, that's the dream. They love a challenge.

But if you're new to the hobby and your goal is simply to relax and enjoy putting together a beautiful image, starting with a difficult puzzle can make the entire hobby feel frustrating. My biggest advice is to choose an image you're genuinely excited about. Don't worry about whether it's the "right" brand, the "right" piece count, or whether experienced puzzlers would find it challenging enough.

If you love cozy bookstores, pick a cozy bookstore. If you love cats, pick cats. If colorful landscapes make you happy, start there.

Cozy Bookshop by White Mountain

The best puzzle is the one that makes you want to keep coming back to the table. And here's something I firmly believe: life is too short to do a puzzle you don't like. If you're halfway through a puzzle and absolutely miserable, it's okay to move on to something else. Not every puzzle is going to be a perfect fit, and that's part of the hobby.

The good news is that with over 11,000 puzzle images to choose from at Puzzle Warehouse, there's a pretty good chance your perfect puzzle is still waiting for you. If you aren't sure of what makes a puzzle more or less challenging you may find there is a blog post that goes over the topic, which you may find useful. Now I will say some images are easier than others. I'd also recommend maybe trying a smaller piece count too.  300 to 500 piece puzzles are a great starting point to learn strategies, what you like as far as image, and to get the confidence to try a 1000 piece puzzle, without feeling discouraged.  But honestly, if you fall in love with a 1000-piece image, go for it.

Puzzle Board by MasterPieces

2. Your Puzzle Set Up

One of the biggest mistakes I see new puzzlers make is trying to work in a space that's uncomfortable. Maybe the lighting is dim. Maybe they're hunched over a coffee table. Maybe they're constantly having to move pieces out of the way every time someone wants to use the table.

You don't need a dedicated puzzle room. Most of us don't have one. The dining room table, the kitchen table, even the floor a few times. The important thing is finding a space where you can comfortably leave your puzzle out and come back to it.When I first started puzzling, my setup was whatever flat surface happened to be available. working from the box lid for a sorting tray, and constantly loosing my poster which I sometimes would tape to the wall. You know what it all worked. 

Good lighting is one of the easiest ways to improve your puzzling experience. It doesn't have to be a fancy puzzle lamp, although I do love a good light that clamps onto my puzzle surface. A bright room, a nearby window, or a basic floor lamp can make a huge difference. Being able to clearly see color variations and piece details will save you a lot of frustration.

The other thing to consider is whether your puzzle needs to be moved. If you're using the dining room table and nobody minds it being occupied for a week (or longer), great. Keep it simple. But if your puzzle has to disappear every time it's dinner time, that's when something like a foam board or puzzle board becomes really helpful. It isn't something I ever considered as a beginner, but it's one of those accessories that has made my hobby a lot more convenient. It's a great idea to mention to family if they are trying to figure out what to get you for a gift.

The goal isn't to create the perfect puzzle setup. It's simply to create one that's comfortable enough that you'll want to sit down and puzzle again tomorrow.

3. The Two Accessories I Swear By

Remember when I said you don't need a bunch of accessories to enjoy puzzling? I stand by that. But after completing hundreds of puzzles over the years, there are two accessories that I genuinely use all the time and would recommend to almost any puzzler. I wish I had gotten them sooner as they truly are game changers.

William Morris by Pomegranate

A Box Top Holder

If I had to pick just one puzzle accessory, this would probably be it. I own several box top holders, and one of my personal favorites is the one from Puzzle Peak because it works with both puzzle boxes and posters.

What makes a box top holder so useful is that it keeps your reference image upright, visible, and out of the way. Instead of constantly moving your box around the table or wondering where you left the poster, it's always right in front of you at a comfortable viewing angle. As someone who is always trying to maximize puzzle space, I love that it frees up valuable room on the table while making it easier to reference the image.

Is it necessary? Absolutely not. Is it one of those things that, once you have it, you wonder why you waited so long? Absolutely.

Glue Sheets by MasterPieces

Glue Sheets

I know this one won't apply to everyone because plenty of puzzlers take their puzzles apart when they're finished. In fact, that's what I do most of the time. But when I find a puzzle that's special enough to preserve, glue sheets are my go-to solution. I've used traditional puzzle glue before, and while it works, it can be messy. You have to spread it evenly, wait for it to dry, and make sure curious pets, kids, or random household chaos don't decide to investigate while it's still tacky. As someone with cats, that last part is always an adventure.

Glue sheets make the whole process incredibly simple. Just apply them to the back of the completed puzzle and you're done. The entire process takes less than a minute, and the puzzle is ready to frame without the mess or drying time. If preserving puzzles is something you think you'll enjoy, glue sheets are one of the easiest upgrades you can make.

Rainbow Gradient by MasterPieces

4. Patience

Unfortunately, this is the one thing that's not available at Puzzle Warehouse. One of the biggest lessons I've learned over the years is that every puzzler enjoys different parts of the process. For example, it took me a long time to get into sorting pieces. Even now, it's probably my least favorite part of puzzling. All I really want to do is start putting pieces together. On the flip side, I know puzzlers who absolutely love sorting. They'll spend a significant amount of time organizing pieces by color, pattern, or shape before they ever place a single piece into the puzzle.

Neither approach is wrong.

The same goes for puzzle difficulty. There are certain puzzles I know I wouldn't enjoy. Huge sections of fur? Extra difficult images with very little color variation? Puzzles designed specifically to be frustrating? There are plenty of puzzlers who love those challenges, but they're probably not what I'm reaching for on a relaxing evening.

Part of becoming a puzzler is figuring out what you enjoy. Maybe that's sorting every piece. Maybe it's jumping right in. Maybe it's spending an entire Saturday working on a puzzle. Or maybe it's sitting down with a cup of coffee and fitting together a handful of pieces before starting your day. Not everyone has hours to spend puzzling, and that's okay. You don't need to finish a puzzle in one sitting. You don't need to make visible progress every time you sit down. Sometimes putting in a few pieces and enjoying a quiet moment is enough. After all, the goal isn't to finish as quickly as possible. The goal is to enjoy the time you spend doing it.

Beach Path by White Mountain

That's Really It

If you've made it this far hoping for a long shopping list, I'm sorry to disappoint you. The truth is that getting started with puzzles is wonderfully simple. You need a puzzle that excites you, a comfortable place to work on it, and enough patience to enjoy the process.

Everything else is optional. Over time, you may discover accessories that make the hobby more enjoyable. Maybe you'll fall in love with sorting trays. Maybe you'll invest in a puzzle board. Maybe you'll become a box-top holder evangelist like me. Or maybe you'll happily keep puzzling at the kitchen table with a few bowls borrowed from the cupboard. There is no right way to be a puzzler.

The best setup is the one that makes you want to come back and do another puzzle. So don't worry about having the perfect space, the perfect accessories, or the perfect strategy. Pick a puzzle that makes you smile, clear off a corner of the table, and get started. The rest will figure itself out along the way.

Emilee Frost
@thecasualpuzzler