diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 375935c93d..a8c59d1a9b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ## Features
 
+- Make the default theme depend on the terminal background, when available, see #1746 (@aykevl).
+
 ## Bugfixes
 
 ## Other
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index c506b811d2..be46037eac 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -105,6 +105,113 @@ dependencies = [
  "wait-timeout",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "async-channel"
+version = "1.9.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "81953c529336010edd6d8e358f886d9581267795c61b19475b71314bffa46d35"
+dependencies = [
+ "concurrent-queue",
+ "event-listener",
+ "futures-core",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "async-executor"
+version = "1.5.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "6fa3dc5f2a8564f07759c008b9109dc0d39de92a88d5588b8a5036d286383afb"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-lock",
+ "async-task",
+ "concurrent-queue",
+ "fastrand",
+ "futures-lite",
+ "slab",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "async-global-executor"
+version = "2.3.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f1b6f5d7df27bd294849f8eec66ecfc63d11814df7a4f5d74168a2394467b776"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-channel",
+ "async-executor",
+ "async-io",
+ "async-lock",
+ "blocking",
+ "futures-lite",
+ "once_cell",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "async-io"
+version = "1.13.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0fc5b45d93ef0529756f812ca52e44c221b35341892d3dcc34132ac02f3dd2af"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-lock",
+ "autocfg",
+ "cfg-if",
+ "concurrent-queue",
+ "futures-lite",
+ "log",
+ "parking",
+ "polling",
+ "rustix 0.37.3",
+ "slab",
+ "socket2",
+ "waker-fn",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "async-lock"
+version = "2.7.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "fa24f727524730b077666307f2734b4a1a1c57acb79193127dcc8914d5242dd7"
+dependencies = [
+ "event-listener",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "async-std"
+version = "1.12.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "62565bb4402e926b29953c785397c6dc0391b7b446e45008b0049eb43cec6f5d"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-channel",
+ "async-global-executor",
+ "async-io",
+ "async-lock",
+ "crossbeam-utils",
+ "futures-channel",
+ "futures-core",
+ "futures-io",
+ "futures-lite",
+ "gloo-timers",
+ "kv-log-macro",
+ "log",
+ "memchr",
+ "once_cell",
+ "pin-project-lite",
+ "pin-utils",
+ "slab",
+ "wasm-bindgen-futures",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "async-task"
+version = "4.4.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ecc7ab41815b3c653ccd2978ec3255c81349336702dfdf62ee6f7069b12a3aae"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "atomic-waker"
+version = "1.1.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1181e1e0d1fce796a03db1ae795d67167da795f9cf4a39c37589e85ef57f26d3"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "atty"
 version = "0.2.14"
@@ -163,6 +270,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "shell-words",
  "syntect",
  "tempfile",
+ "termbg",
  "thiserror",
  "unicode-width",
  "wait-timeout",
@@ -200,6 +308,21 @@ version = "1.3.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "bef38d45163c2f1dde094a7dfd33ccf595c92905c8f8f4fdc18d06fb1037718a"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "blocking"
+version = "1.3.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "77231a1c8f801696fc0123ec6150ce92cffb8e164a02afb9c8ddee0e9b65ad65"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-channel",
+ "async-lock",
+ "async-task",
+ "atomic-waker",
+ "fastrand",
+ "futures-lite",
+ "log",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "bstr"
 version = "1.1.0"
@@ -223,6 +346,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "sys-info",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "bumpalo"
+version = "3.13.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a3e2c3daef883ecc1b5d58c15adae93470a91d425f3532ba1695849656af3fc1"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "bytemuck"
 version = "1.12.1"
@@ -298,6 +427,15 @@ version = "1.0.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "acbf1af155f9b9ef647e42cdc158db4b64a1b61f743629225fde6f3e0be2a7c7"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "concurrent-queue"
+version = "2.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "62ec6771ecfa0762d24683ee5a32ad78487a3d3afdc0fb8cae19d2c5deb50b7c"
+dependencies = [
+ "crossbeam-utils",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "console"
 version = "0.15.5"
@@ -329,6 +467,50 @@ dependencies = [
  "cfg-if",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "crossbeam-utils"
+version = "0.8.16"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "5a22b2d63d4d1dc0b7f1b6b2747dd0088008a9be28b6ddf0b1e7d335e3037294"
+dependencies = [
+ "cfg-if",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "crossterm"
+version = "0.19.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7c36c10130df424b2f3552fcc2ddcd9b28a27b1e54b358b45874f88d1ca6888c"
+dependencies = [
+ "bitflags",
+ "crossterm_winapi",
+ "lazy_static",
+ "libc",
+ "mio",
+ "parking_lot 0.11.2",
+ "signal-hook",
+ "winapi",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "crossterm_winapi"
+version = "0.7.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0da8964ace4d3e4a044fd027919b2237000b24315a37c916f61809f1ff2140b9"
+dependencies = [
+ "winapi",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "ctor"
+version = "0.1.26"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "6d2301688392eb071b0bf1a37be05c469d3cc4dbbd95df672fe28ab021e6a096"
+dependencies = [
+ "quote",
+ "syn 1.0.104",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "dashmap"
 version = "5.4.0"
@@ -339,7 +521,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "hashbrown",
  "lock_api",
  "once_cell",
- "parking_lot_core",
+ "parking_lot_core 0.9.7",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -488,6 +670,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "event-listener"
+version = "2.5.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0206175f82b8d6bf6652ff7d71a1e27fd2e4efde587fd368662814d6ec1d9ce0"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "expect-test"
 version = "1.4.0"
@@ -551,6 +739,42 @@ dependencies = [
  "percent-encoding",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "futures-channel"
+version = "0.3.28"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "955518d47e09b25bbebc7a18df10b81f0c766eaf4c4f1cccef2fca5f2a4fb5f2"
+dependencies = [
+ "futures-core",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "futures-core"
+version = "0.3.28"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "4bca583b7e26f571124fe5b7561d49cb2868d79116cfa0eefce955557c6fee8c"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "futures-io"
+version = "0.3.28"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "4fff74096e71ed47f8e023204cfd0aa1289cd54ae5430a9523be060cdb849964"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "futures-lite"
+version = "1.13.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "49a9d51ce47660b1e808d3c990b4709f2f415d928835a17dfd16991515c46bce"
+dependencies = [
+ "fastrand",
+ "futures-core",
+ "futures-io",
+ "memchr",
+ "parking",
+ "pin-project-lite",
+ "waker-fn",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "getrandom"
 version = "0.2.7"
@@ -616,6 +840,18 @@ dependencies = [
  "regex",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "gloo-timers"
+version = "0.2.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9b995a66bb87bebce9a0f4a95aed01daca4872c050bfcb21653361c03bc35e5c"
+dependencies = [
+ "futures-channel",
+ "futures-core",
+ "js-sys",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "grep-cli"
 version = "0.1.7"
@@ -729,6 +965,24 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "js-sys"
+version = "0.3.64"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c5f195fe497f702db0f318b07fdd68edb16955aed830df8363d837542f8f935a"
+dependencies = [
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "kv-log-macro"
+version = "1.0.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0de8b303297635ad57c9f5059fd9cee7a47f8e8daa09df0fcd07dd39fb22977f"
+dependencies = [
+ "log",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "lazy_static"
 version = "1.4.0"
@@ -809,6 +1063,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "abb12e687cfb44aa40f41fc3978ef76448f9b6038cad6aef4259d3c095a2382e"
 dependencies = [
  "cfg-if",
+ "value-bag",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -826,6 +1081,28 @@ dependencies = [
  "adler",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "mio"
+version = "0.7.14"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8067b404fe97c70829f082dec8bcf4f71225d7eaea1d8645349cb76fa06205cc"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+ "log",
+ "miow",
+ "ntapi",
+ "winapi",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "miow"
+version = "0.3.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b9f1c5b025cda876f66ef43a113f91ebc9f4ccef34843000e0adf6ebbab84e21"
+dependencies = [
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "nix"
 version = "0.26.2"
@@ -844,6 +1121,15 @@ version = "0.3.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "61807f77802ff30975e01f4f071c8ba10c022052f98b3294119f3e615d13e5be"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ntapi"
+version = "0.3.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c28774a7fd2fbb4f0babd8237ce554b73af68021b5f695a3cebd6c59bac0980f"
+dependencies = [
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "nu-ansi-term"
 version = "0.47.0"
@@ -899,6 +1185,23 @@ dependencies = [
  "pkg-config",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "parking"
+version = "2.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "14f2252c834a40ed9bb5422029649578e63aa341ac401f74e719dd1afda8394e"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "parking_lot"
+version = "0.11.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7d17b78036a60663b797adeaee46f5c9dfebb86948d1255007a1d6be0271ff99"
+dependencies = [
+ "instant",
+ "lock_api",
+ "parking_lot_core 0.8.6",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "parking_lot"
 version = "0.12.1"
@@ -906,7 +1209,21 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "3742b2c103b9f06bc9fff0a37ff4912935851bee6d36f3c02bcc755bcfec228f"
 dependencies = [
  "lock_api",
- "parking_lot_core",
+ "parking_lot_core 0.9.7",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "parking_lot_core"
+version = "0.8.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "60a2cfe6f0ad2bfc16aefa463b497d5c7a5ecd44a23efa72aa342d90177356dc"
+dependencies = [
+ "cfg-if",
+ "instant",
+ "libc",
+ "redox_syscall 0.2.16",
+ "smallvec",
+ "winapi",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -937,6 +1254,18 @@ version = "2.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "478c572c3d73181ff3c2539045f6eb99e5491218eae919370993b890cdbdd98e"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pin-project-lite"
+version = "0.2.10"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "4c40d25201921e5ff0c862a505c6557ea88568a4e3ace775ab55e93f2f4f9d57"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "pin-utils"
+version = "0.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8b870d8c151b6f2fb93e84a13146138f05d02ed11c7e7c54f8826aaaf7c9f184"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pkg-config"
 version = "0.3.25"
@@ -957,6 +1286,22 @@ dependencies = [
  "time",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "polling"
+version = "2.8.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "4b2d323e8ca7996b3e23126511a523f7e62924d93ecd5ae73b333815b0eb3dce"
+dependencies = [
+ "autocfg",
+ "bitflags",
+ "cfg-if",
+ "concurrent-queue",
+ "libc",
+ "log",
+ "pin-project-lite",
+ "windows-sys 0.48.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "predicates"
 version = "3.0.3"
@@ -1200,7 +1545,7 @@ checksum = "0e56dd856803e253c8f298af3f4d7eb0ae5e23a737252cd90bb4f3b435033b2d"
 dependencies = [
  "dashmap",
  "lazy_static",
- "parking_lot",
+ "parking_lot 0.12.1",
  "serial_test_derive",
 ]
 
@@ -1227,12 +1572,51 @@ version = "1.1.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "24188a676b6ae68c3b2cb3a01be17fbf7240ce009799bb56d5b1409051e78fde"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "signal-hook"
+version = "0.1.17"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7e31d442c16f047a671b5a71e2161d6e68814012b7f5379d269ebd915fac2729"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+ "mio",
+ "signal-hook-registry",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "signal-hook-registry"
+version = "1.4.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d8229b473baa5980ac72ef434c4415e70c4b5e71b423043adb4ba059f89c99a1"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "slab"
+version = "0.4.8"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "6528351c9bc8ab22353f9d776db39a20288e8d6c37ef8cfe3317cf875eecfc2d"
+dependencies = [
+ "autocfg",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "smallvec"
 version = "1.10.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "a507befe795404456341dfab10cef66ead4c041f62b8b11bbb92bffe5d0953e0"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "socket2"
+version = "0.4.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "02e2d2db9033d13a1567121ddd7a095ee144db4e1ca1b1bda3419bc0da294ebd"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "static_assertions"
 version = "1.1.0"
@@ -1320,6 +1704,18 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.45.0",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "termbg"
+version = "0.4.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "af8f790306d97b7453a170f39f4b99d8f5faa7e9f7a312e77681e205a72dcbd2"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-std",
+ "crossterm",
+ "thiserror",
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "termcolor"
 version = "1.1.3"
@@ -1435,12 +1831,28 @@ version = "0.2.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "711b9620af191e0cdc7468a8d14e709c3dcdb115b36f838e601583af800a370a"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "value-bag"
+version = "1.0.0-alpha.9"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2209b78d1249f7e6f3293657c9779fe31ced465df091bbd433a1cf88e916ec55"
+dependencies = [
+ "ctor",
+ "version_check",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "vcpkg"
 version = "0.2.15"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "accd4ea62f7bb7a82fe23066fb0957d48ef677f6eeb8215f372f52e48bb32426"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "version_check"
+version = "0.9.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "49874b5167b65d7193b8aba1567f5c7d93d001cafc34600cee003eda787e483f"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "wait-timeout"
 version = "0.2.0"
@@ -1450,6 +1862,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "waker-fn"
+version = "1.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9d5b2c62b4012a3e1eca5a7e077d13b3bf498c4073e33ccd58626607748ceeca"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "walkdir"
 version = "2.3.3"
@@ -1466,6 +1884,82 @@ version = "0.11.0+wasi-snapshot-preview1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9c8d87e72b64a3b4db28d11ce29237c246188f4f51057d65a7eab63b7987e423"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "wasm-bindgen"
+version = "0.2.87"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7706a72ab36d8cb1f80ffbf0e071533974a60d0a308d01a5d0375bf60499a342"
+dependencies = [
+ "cfg-if",
+ "wasm-bindgen-macro",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wasm-bindgen-backend"
+version = "0.2.87"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "5ef2b6d3c510e9625e5fe6f509ab07d66a760f0885d858736483c32ed7809abd"
+dependencies = [
+ "bumpalo",
+ "log",
+ "once_cell",
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn 2.0.12",
+ "wasm-bindgen-shared",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wasm-bindgen-futures"
+version = "0.4.37"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c02dbc21516f9f1f04f187958890d7e6026df8d16540b7ad9492bc34a67cea03"
+dependencies = [
+ "cfg-if",
+ "js-sys",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+ "web-sys",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wasm-bindgen-macro"
+version = "0.2.87"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "dee495e55982a3bd48105a7b947fd2a9b4a8ae3010041b9e0faab3f9cd028f1d"
+dependencies = [
+ "quote",
+ "wasm-bindgen-macro-support",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wasm-bindgen-macro-support"
+version = "0.2.87"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "54681b18a46765f095758388f2d0cf16eb8d4169b639ab575a8f5693af210c7b"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn 2.0.12",
+ "wasm-bindgen-backend",
+ "wasm-bindgen-shared",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wasm-bindgen-shared"
+version = "0.2.87"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ca6ad05a4870b2bf5fe995117d3728437bd27d7cd5f06f13c17443ef369775a1"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "web-sys"
+version = "0.3.64"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9b85cbef8c220a6abc02aefd892dfc0fc23afb1c6a426316ec33253a3877249b"
+dependencies = [
+ "js-sys",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "wild"
 version = "2.1.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 9a6692d516..ad9ff1e2f4 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,22 +16,10 @@ rust-version = "1.64"
 default = ["application"]
 # Feature required for bat the application. Should be disabled when depending on
 # bat as a library.
-application = [
-    "bugreport",
-    "build-assets",
-    "git",
-    "minimal-application",
-]
+application = ["bugreport", "build-assets", "git", "minimal-application"]
 # Mainly for developers that want to iterate quickly
 # Be aware that the included features might change in the future
-minimal-application = [
-    "is-terminal",
-    "clap",
-    "dirs",
-    "paging",
-    "regex-onig",
-    "wild",
-]
+minimal-application = ["is-terminal", "clap", "dirs", "paging", "regex-onig", "wild"]
 git = ["git2"] # Support indicating git modifications
 paging = ["shell-words", "grep-cli"] # Support applying a pager on the output
 build-assets = ["syntect/yaml-load", "syntect/plist-load", "regex", "walkdir"]
@@ -66,6 +54,7 @@ grep-cli = { version = "0.1.7", optional = true }
 regex = { version = "1.8.3", optional = true }
 walkdir = { version = "2.3", optional = true }
 bytesize = { version = "1.2.0" }
+termbg = "0.4.3"
 
 [dependencies.git2]
 version = "0.16"
diff --git a/src/assets.rs b/src/assets.rs
index 595d301b11..8fc521c045 100644
--- a/src/assets.rs
+++ b/src/assets.rs
@@ -74,8 +74,12 @@ impl HighlightingAssets {
     /// ### Windows and Linux
     ///
     /// Windows and most Linux distributions has a dark terminal theme by
-    /// default. On these platforms, this function always returns a theme that
-    /// looks good on a dark background.
+    /// default. However, it is possible to configure the terminal to have a
+    /// light background instead.
+    /// Detecting whether a dark or light theme is in use is not entirely
+    /// straightforward and isn't supported by all terminals. Luckily, the
+    /// termbg crate has this all figured out already so we simply rely on its
+    /// detection mechanism instead.
     ///
     /// ### macOS
     ///
@@ -93,10 +97,23 @@ impl HighlightingAssets {
     pub fn default_theme() -> &'static str {
         #[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
         {
-            Self::default_dark_theme()
+            // Try to detect the color scheme from the terminal.
+            let timeout = std::time::Duration::from_millis(100);
+            if let Ok(theme) = termbg::theme(timeout) {
+                // We found a color scheme for this terminal, so use it.
+                match theme {
+                    termbg::Theme::Dark => Self::default_dark_theme(),
+                    termbg::Theme::Light => Self::default_light_theme(),
+                }
+            } else {
+                // No color scheme found, default to the dark theme.
+                Self::default_dark_theme()
+            }
         }
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
         {
+            // TODO: perhaps we sould use the same detection mechanism here as
+            // for Linux/Windows?
             if macos_dark_mode_active() {
                 Self::default_dark_theme()
             } else {
@@ -115,7 +132,6 @@ impl HighlightingAssets {
     /**
      * The default theme that looks good on a light background.
      */
-    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
     fn default_light_theme() -> &'static str {
         "Monokai Extended Light"
     }