a table in tpl_footer?

I wanted a table in the footer with full category links. I hardcoded this, my php editor let me put an html table in the tpl_footer.php. It looks alright, but I'm a bit doubtful thats the right way to go about it. I have put this in the tpl_footer.php

I'm just wondering about this as although it looks as it is meant too, I am trying to colour the background in css stylesheet and the div will only apply to the first row.

You might try styling the table in the div:

#quicklinks table {background: whatever;}

Otherwise, we can give correct advice if we can see the site.

You are correct that using a layout table is not the recommended way to get a particular look.

heres a link, you'll see the footer with the links its just the categories extended. click here for site

I have styled this

#quicklinks {
font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 1.2em;
background-color: #e8f4d8;
}

#quicklinks a:link 
{text-decoration: none;
color: #A9CD81;
}   

#quicklinks a:visited 
{text-decoration: none;
color: #A9CD81;
}  

#quicklinks a:hover 
{text-decoration: none;
color: #515151;
}  

#quicklinks a:active 
{text-decoration: none;
color: #A9CD81;
}   	

Its almost having the desired effect except the whole background is supposed to be that colour above, where as its mostly white. I'm new to this sort of thing though and don't know how else to go about it. I'm used to html and learning php/css.