There are just so many options out there that it comes down to personal taste. Your best bet is to look around on the web and at various fish stores to get an idea of what you want, and then you could ask which combinations would work.
I'll throw some ideas out there for you though. For bottom-dwelling fish, corydoras are a popular choice. Most types stay on the small side, but you will want a group of them so that they are comfortable and show more natural behavior. For this reason, I would go with one of the smallest varieties such as dwarf or pygmy cories. C. pygmaeus and C. habrosus are two good examples.
Tetras are a popular choice for mid-level schooling fish, but some varieties can be sensitive and not really suitable for beginners. I had no problems with neons when I had my first aquarium, but I understand that the ones available these days tend to be quite sensitive. Rasboras such as Harlequins are an alternative and seem to be a bit more hardy than many of the tetra species.
For primarily top-level fish, I'd go with a honey gourami, or possibly a dwarf. The honey gouramis will stay smaller than the dwarves, and are generally not as territorial.
I've just outlined a very basic community set-up. Like I said, the options are practically limitless, so do some research to get an idea of what YOU would like and go from there. Posts asking "what fish should I get" generally get few responses because it is all a matter of personal taste and opinion. Hope that helps!