Navigation layout is one of the most important items in web design layout. If your visitors cannot find their way around your site, they will leave and move on to another site. An easy navigation layout will direct your visitors to the information they're looking for without getting lost. So keep it simple:
Your website should be both attractive and usable. Although your site will be made up of a number of pages, your design should be consistent throughout. It is very important that your users know their way back to the home page, and can easily navigate through your site. It can be advantageous to use one page layout for your entire web site, which includes all the features, navigation bars, and colors. This uniformity will make your web site user friendly and attractive.
The navigation bar is an essential section of the layout. The navigation bar should make it easy for your visitors to navigate through your site. The navigation bar is most often placed in one of two sections of the layout: on the left side of the screen, or on the top, under the header. This is important because of different size screens and resolution. What may appear on the bottom of your screen may not appear on someone else's screen, therefore, it is recommended to keep the important elements on the top or left section of the layout.
Navigation buttons are very effective ways to combine design and functionality. Buttons can be (small) images to enhance the design, simple text (easy on the eyes), providing an obvious way to move around the site. Navigation buttons should help communicate your site's neatness and order, and should fit into the overall design of the website. Buttons can also have sub-menus, to keep it organized and simple. Buttons can also be enhanced with Java rollovers, or different color patterns, keeping it clear and easy to use. I advise that buttons should be kept in the same place and in the same order throughout the site. This makes it easier for your visitors to navigate through your site, since they will know where they are, and how to get to new pages.