How to improve your layout web design skills?

Unfortunately, I don't believe there's any secret to creating good design, aside from learning the skills of design and aesthetics along with simply...practice.

There are strategies and tools that can be used to foster creativity, but while they may work for some people, they may or may not work for you.

Here's what I use:

1. A sketchbook. As powerful a tool as it is, sometimes its better to step away from the computer and just take a walk with your sketchbook. Sketch a lamp post, throw down some geometric shapes - sometimes just your pencil and a piece of paper can be more conductive to creative thinking.
2. Coloured art paper and geometric shapes. Again - a non-digital approach, try out to see what different shapes fit.
3. White board. The non-permancy and sketch-like nature of the material - all things that help let the creativity flow and not feel they have to produce something perfect the first time around.
4. Watch a Film - I have to admit, after seeing Iron Man, I really wanted to steal...er 'borrow' the UI design and somehow fit it into my web pages to create pure awesomeness. While the final product was far from the original inspiration, it did a great deal to get that spark going.
5. Look at other design - magazines, posters, games...all of these media use design in some way, and can get you thinking in ways you wouldn't have thought by looking at just websites.
6. Take a course! Seriously...I'm always learning something new, and never fool myself into thinking I have learned all there is to know.

I vary these up quite a bit so that I don't ever feel too comfortable with a particular technique or method.

I hope that helps!