Have you set a background color to ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘content’? If not, they you’ll need to do this before you set the ‘body’ background color, else those ID’s are going to inherit and use the ‘body’ background color you set.
You’d need to use CSS and ‘float’ it to the left. As an example:
<div style="float: left;">
ad code goes here
</div>
Of course, you may need to specify a width also since this would essentially turn your 2-column design into a 3 column design (ad, content, sidebar – in that order).
Starting with a blank CSS powered theme would probably be the easiest way to begin theme development unless you’re comfortable working with a theme that is already developed.
The SandBox Theme is probably one of the most basic, but most widely used WordPress Themes that developers use as a base for their themes.
