I understand your pain with only being allowed a 10g
I'm in the same boat. Don't forget that you'll need to transport the aquarium. First, make a long list of possible fish you want. Then research.
A 10g is too small for any cory beyond the 3 pygmy species. You can regularly find the pygmy cories on aquabid.
I'm planning an Amazon biotope-ish aquarium mainly for marbled or marthae hatchetfish. It will have 5 minor red serpae tetras and 3 otos with the 5-7 hatchets. I also have a very oversized DIY filters. I'm using a mix of fake plants (water wonders silk plants look amazing and the fish love them) and real. Some people will say real plants are the only way to go, but using fake as well is fine. For example, some of the plants I'd want would be far too demanding for what I want.