Design troubles :(

[Tratos]

Well im trying to make a layout for my website in photoshop but im exactly the most creative person on the planet and ive just started to dabble with ps, on my first attemp/version i go this:
http://www.broken-reality.org/misc/br_layout1.gif - too plain, no menu

then i added a menu and got this:
http://www.broken-reality.org/misc/br_layout1.1.gif - too plain still looks very boring and dark

tried lightening it and farting with glow effects, got this:
http://www.broken-reality.org/misc/br_layout1.2.gif

And its still too plain :( i want the plain look but not that plain and the large blue area will be full of tables when i do the site type part of it after slicing but i just think the blue looks wrong as i cant get a decent shade and it still looks very very plain.

http://www.broken-reality.org check that for what im planing to do so you know where im going with the site if you try and help me, im crap at photoshop but really wanna get this right, any help or advice?

[Ascension]

Dude, im always up for helping you!.. i love photoshop, its my best friend ;)

u got my msn still right? gimmi a shout :)

so u dont have msn in ya profile u g00n :p

[Xeno LARD]

Think sexy, think professional designs. Think little details the make the site worth visiting. Think.. my site :p.

No, just joking. But my site did take about 2 weeks of photoshopping before it got to a stage where I thought "w00, yesh sexy!". Then I cropped and coded.

What I'm saying is, you don't need to rush it. Get some pattern on the blue bit (Think light effect (google for free textures) and pixelize).

[Tratos]

thanks for the advice Xeno :) Asc showed me some stuff on MSN last night so im gonna have a stab at it today and see what i come up with.

[Xeno LARD]

Cool. :D. Make sure you post your results.