> Layout-Colors-Fonts
When making a website you must keep in mind what you like about others websites.
For Example:
Do you like those long scrolling pages? If you don't than obviously no one else will. You have to do something you like and make your site comfortable for others, specially if is a page where there is something to read, "Don't put a wallpaper in a page where there's something to read!" Because this will clash with the letters. Have a solid color for the background. Another thing is to use harmonious colors that appeal to ones eyes and not those colors that want to make you scream. Is okay is your whole site is in one color, this makes the site more comfortable to the visitor, why? Because people like consistency.. trust me, they do. About the fonts use fonts that are readable, and that would want to make you read. I recommend "Garamond", this font looks very nice in a page where there is an article. Another thing, please do not have a red background with blue letters. Why? because its unreadable, if you are going to have colors, please use pastel colors so the page looks nice and clean.