Frustrated with position and control. Halp

Hi guys, recently I have picked up chess and love the game a lot. I solve a lot of tactics on chess tempo with no problem and my rating there is 1038 (I like the setup of those tactics better so I stopped using chess.cm's tactics for a bit) I also like chess base. I have been practicing against computers more than online. I feel like there is something I don't quite get. I beat a friend of mine on here that is almost twice my rating. Sometimes the game just flows and I have no problem controlling the situation. Other times I either suffocate myself with position or straight up blunder. At my highest, most focused level I can play decently and have fun. Other times, not so much. I see a lot of the structures and recognize them. It is just control of exchanging and calculation a bit. I have a high spacial memory I just struggle with the concepts.

Territory? I know you are supposed to happen but sometimes I will see someone attack mostly dark squares, light squares or evenly both. How do you know what space to cover (not just how much) I don't know the actual structure names but I call them walls, baskets, cages etc and learned them from the computer but being stuck on level 35 it uses its structures much better than mine. I know these fortresses are a variation of an openng and I can recognize them but not name them so I just give them weird names. The thing is I don't know how to build the proper fortress to attack the other one. I build a decent one now but idk if it is the right one. I think I sound like my style is more positional than anything and I enjoy making these shapes. It feels more like a battle.

I am just having trouble. At times I will create a great position and it feels easy (my game against holluc on this site) and mostly, other times, I get creamed. I seem to choke myself out or blunder. 

I feel like there is a root concept that if I understood it would help me. You know? This structure is good against that one but bad against this one. You should have x amount of dark or light squares under control. Shutting off enemy communication and gaining control of certain things. 

Idk if this even makes sense.

I am just getting frustrated >.<

Any advice is appreciated