The quest for the perfect layout

 How do you pick the perfect layout ? This thought crossed my mind this morning for 2 reasons: heroes_gleeweek is in full swing ( it is a lovely place, go and join the fun) and one of the things people can request are layouts. Now I have been restless for a layout for a while, and I'd like  an Heroes one, but I am uncertain about what I want.

Apparently, at least according to people who still remember my 2005 Christmassy layout (yes I am looking at you joereaves )  I am a bit colourchallenged, and after being blinded by an all red layout this morning while looking for fic, I can see their point about too bright colours and how they put off readers.

Also I love my layout to be functional. Banners that fill the screen so you have to scroll down annoy me. as do those layouts where you do have to look for the writing in very small boxes hidden amongst beautiful graphics. 

However the layouts that appeal most to my reader oriented nature are to put it mildly, boring. All beige and grey and all that. And I am a lot of things, mostly negative, but I am not boring. Yet.

So my layout needs to be functional, colourful but not blinding and with nice but not too dominering graphics. Is it too much to ask for ?

So, dear flist, how did you pick your layout and why ? What are your criteria? How often do you change it ? What does make the perfect layout ?