diff --git a/config.example.toml b/config.example.toml
index 5dfee574..6634a891 100644
--- a/config.example.toml
+++ b/config.example.toml
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ osc8_links = true            # emit OSC 8 escapes around URLs (Cmd+click in iTer
 #                           # Override: `locale = "zh-Hans"` for Simplified Chinese regardless of OS locale.
 #                           # Also settable at runtime: /config locale zh-Hans
 #                           # Note: this only affects TUI labels/chrome — it does NOT change model output language.
+# use_terminal_colors = false  # set true to let your terminal's color scheme take full control
 
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Feature Flags
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/config.rs b/crates/tui/src/config.rs
index 49fd56f3..5fe31ccb 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/config.rs
@@ -343,6 +343,9 @@ pub struct TuiConfig {
     /// label and ignore the escape. Defaults to `true`; set `false` for
     /// terminals that misrender the sequence.
     pub osc8_links: Option<bool>,
+    /// When true, TUI uses Color::Reset everywhere and defers all color decisions
+    /// to the terminal emulator. Useful for terminals with custom color schemes.
+    pub use_terminal_colors: Option<bool>,
 }
 
 /// Notification delivery method (mirrors `tui::notifications::Method`).
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/pager.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/pager.rs
index 19ea9f99..481805e0 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/pager.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/pager.rs
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ impl ModalView for PagerView {
                     Color::DarkGray
                 };
                 let fg = if is_current {
-                    Color::Black
+                    Color::Reset
                 } else {
                     Color::Yellow
                 };
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/mod.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/mod.rs
index b9de3587..72aa0782 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/mod.rs
@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@ fn apply_detail_target_highlight(
     target_cell: usize,
     line_meta: &[TranscriptLineMeta],
 ) {
-    let highlight_bg = Color::Rgb(18, 29, 39);
+    let highlight_bg = Color::Reset;
     for (idx, line) in lines.iter_mut().enumerate() {
         let line_index = top + idx;
         if let Some(TranscriptLineMeta::CellLine { cell_index, .. }) = line_meta.get(line_index)