I would support nostr:nprofile1qqsqzr0se9y0ax44f5kt06jzplaq34tetzvpkm4x36p64flt9hflqkspz9mhxue69uhkummnw3ezumrpdejz7qg3waehxw309ahx7um5wgh8w6twv5hsz9rhwvaz7te3xgmjuvpwxqhrzw358qmrjtcssl7h4's suggestion. XFCE is a light desktop with many options to customize it. Try this one first. Should you later prefer more customizable environment (but with more resources needed), go for KDE. Next step: after you learn more Linux and still looking for sth super light, try windows managers.
Discussion
I've been wondering about this.
How hard is it to switch between DEs and window managers?
Switching is very easy. Adapting a WM to your expectations may be a challenge. It depends on what you need and your knowledge. If you know Linux on an advanced level, you know basics of scripting and Python, it could be quite easy. If not, it would require more time to find solutions.
DEs give you an easier path: almost everything is in GUI. And in my opinion, KDE dominates in that topic. But personally I like Cinnamon, as well. And Gnome was my first DE ever (maaaaaany years ago...).
Still, on older comps (which I usually use) WMs make much more sense in case you need graphical environment and I like using them.
I don't script. 😅
I think I'll stick to a DE for now.
If you install a distro that has a GUI you almost definitely have a desktop manager app. This is the app where you enter your credentials to login. Basically all of them have a way to select which desktop or window manager to launch after login.
So install 2 desktops. Logout. Switch the dropdown. Login. New desktop or window manager. No reboot or command line needed.
I saw that in a video, but I didn't know if that was an OS thing as the person in the video said (no idea if that is correct or not) that it was a feature of Gnome (in his install).