If you dont know HTML or graphic design that well, i suggest you download a template and work your website around that. Im sure i speak for some other users when i say that sometimes when i visit a website, and it has a less than average design filled with high contrast colours, and no real layout, i just discard it straight away, without even checking out its content. I know its probably my loss, as they might have some very useful content, but eyecandy and easy navigation is the key to keep people interested, and to keep them coming back.