For planning just go to the store, pick out some wood and rocks, and kinda mess around with them at the store until you find a configuration you like. Then, I would pick out some good plants and substrate. For a beginner, I would go with any form of nutritious substrate, you can try dirt/compost if you want, but if you don't have prior experience you might overdo the dirt and cause constant algae blooms. I personally would choose a substrate, put it in bags(he does that), and put it at the bottom. Then, kinda put gravel on top of it(that's how he does it you can do whatever), and then put in your hardscape and add the plants.
Beginner plants I would recommend are:
Anubias
Java fern
Any moss really(eg. Java moss, christmas moss, flame moss...)
Ludwigias(some might argue otherwise but it worked well for me)
Anacharis
Other plants:
Crypts
dwarf hairgrass
riccia
carpeting plants
idk anymore
bacopa
Bucephelandra(supposed to be difficult and really expensive)
)
