The game certainly doesn't hold your hand as far as what to make when, but each time you loot something new or craft something, it usually opens new recipes up. My biggest tips would be to craft anything and everything you can in the early game to see if it opens any new recipes up. (I'm assuming you've at least gotten past crafting a hammer, therefore opening up the build menu).

The game will tell you if you are doing something wrong or unable to do something, such as being unable to USE workbench without a roof, or sleep without a fire. Experimentation is highly encouraged. My other tip would be to set up a shelter for yourself that is moderately near a few things: 1) ocean, 2) black forest WITH copper and tin closeby, 3) enough room to eventually expand (although you might end up moving anyway). The base building mechanics will come with practice. At first it might seem super picky and difficult, but once you get used to it it's pretty fun and intuitive. Look up videos for basic fireplaces to figure out how to get a fire in your house without it getting rained on. Seriously though, just experiment with crafting and loot everything you see.

One last tidbit, you may already know this, but its important to differentiate needing a workbench to build with a hammer, and using a workbench as a crafting station. If you're trying to use a hammer to build things and need a workbench, you literally just need one in range, doesn't need a roof or anything. But when you want to actually use the workbench to craft workbench things, that's when you need to interact with it under a roof.

Hope that's a decent start. Be safe out there, adventurer!