How to minimize/hide windows to access desktop without excluding them from mission control

As a previous Windows 11 user, I was accustomed to using the desktop as my primary "window" where I kept all the files which recently use or need to acess frequently. On macOS, when I use the gesture to view the desktop, it seems to be only a quick peek. As soon as I click anywhere, all the windows come back, making it difficult to work on the desktop. I tried shortcuts to hide or minimize all windows, but in both cases, said windows won´t show up in the mission control anymore. Is there a way to get a window out of the way and only getting it back once I click on it in the dock, but at the same time keeping it available in mission control? cheers