I've found that the use of documentFragment elements can provide an easy way to avoid reflows. They're easy to use, you can build your stuff on the side and then insert the fragment somewhere in the DOM as needed.
Though I have to admit that I wonder how come most Linux / open source software websites are so average-looking in terms of colors, font and general styling.
There seems to be a policy of content over presentation when it should be possible and even easy to have both in 2011 without much effort.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Web/API/DocumentFragme...