You need a two-column page layout for your Sharepoint project. I’ll show you how to do this with and without the sidebar (quick launch) being active.

Step 1: Create a new page layout
I use Sharepoint Designer for this. I’m not even sure it’s possible using anything else.

Step 2: Setup your basic layout in HTML
You can use tables or divs, but in the spirit of the future, let’s use divs.

<div></div>
<div></div>
<br style="clear:both;" />

Step 3: Fill your divs
Inside these divs you can place webpart zones, page fields, or your own code (maybe a specific header for each column?). Whatever you want to do.

Step 4 (optional): Hide the sidebar/quicklaunch
Declare this control anywhere not the page, but leave it empty so nothing will load into it:

<asp:Content ContentPlaceholderID="PlaceHolderLeftNavBar" runat="server" />

Don’t forget to add a bit of CSS in the header to expand your main body panel to the full width.

Step 5: Style the divs so they appear next to each other.
Using CSS we can make sure those divs appear next to each other.

.col-left,
.col-right {
    width:400px; /*obviously…play with the width to match your setup*/
    float:left;
}

The <br/> tag above should break after the floated elements so everything remains normal in your page layout.