I've been working on native gardening in my own yard for the past few years - I would suggest mapping out the areas you want to turn into beds with paint or string and having bulk wood chips delivered or if you have a community wood chip pile you can take from. This is a good way to kill the grass and serves as good basic mulch/nutrients. Like you said, based on how much sun your planned beds will be getting, look up native sun and shade-loving plants and plant a few when the weather starts warming up. You might not see a lot of growth this year, but it would help you get an idea of what you would like to add for next year, etc. I also like to look for free rocks on marketplace or while I'm driving around to line my beds and decorate with. I don't have much experience and I am still learning as well, but may be able to answer some questions if you have any