A Little Background Info

THE UBIQUITOUS YELLOW BAR BACKGROUND
There are backgrounds that you can use that won't make your viewers poke their eyes out. The (in)famous "Yellow Bar" made famous by C-NET is one. There are multiple variations on this theme, so don't feel too bad if you decide to imitate one of them.

Look around the Web and note how background images are used. Some are effective, some are offensive. Don't let a background ruin your site -- if you're not sure about it, ditch it.