Hi Jenni,
The look of your website says alot about you and your personality. Although
you are making the websites so that others can use and enjoy it it should be
designed to fit your unique personality. Don't worry about anyone else!
Use the colors, patterns, texture, and atmospher that best demonstrates who
you are. The best advise that I can give you is keep it simple. Not to
many animated gifs, hard on the eyes backgrounds, or things that will
distract the visitors.
Just a few thoughts,
Janet
