The building is really bad - at first... my first shelter was an absolute abomination eye sore of ramshackle pieces thrown around like a beachball at a nickelback concert, but, as you continue building shelters & expanding bigger & better structures,you learn as you build newer designs & more pieces to use as you unlock them. It becomes 100 times easier, as you go basically. Just keep experimenting with different designs that you like, and go from there,maybe get a few ideas online, and see what you can come up with.

Also don't forget the hoe, it is a really, really super useful tool. Where ground level beams fail as support, dirt is so much better for foundations. If you don't want to fiddle around building a frame, raise a ground wall, and build off of it. want a unique looking fireplace? raise dirt and put a roof on it, etc.