Also in regards to using padding, I actually prefer to use padding than margin as margin can react unpredictably and have found padding to be more reliable to use.

I used to add css inline with the tag, but have found that adding css in the header to work just as well. As you need to define the font for each table you define and even nested tables, by adding css for the tag table in the header defining the font family and color it saves alot of repetitive coding and of course time! but try to limit the css you add in the header to global or repetitive parts such as link colours and table styles.