Q:

Something like margin or padding except where background doesn't draw

Is there something that will do what margin does but without the background drawing in that area? For instance, when you give an element margin: 1em you get a 1em border of blank space around the element, but the background draws in that area. Is there something similar to that except where the background doesn't draw?
My problem is I'm trying to put something below three float: lefted divs and right now I can't get any spacing between that and the floated divs above it. They just abut directly against each other. 
The div that is going below the float: lefted divs has the property clear: both. If there was something that made that div have space between it and that floated div above it then that would work too.

A:

Maybe this example will help explain (and solve) your problem?
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />

    <style>
        * { margin: 0; padding: 0; }
        h1, p { background-color: #eee; margin: 10px 0; }
        div { background-color: pink; float: left; width: 100px; height: 100px; margin-right: 1px; }
        br { clear: both; display: block; }
    </style>
</head>

<body>

<h1>Hello, World!</h1>

<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>

<br />

<p>Lorem ipsum dolor set amit...</p>

</body>
</html>

