Solarized color theme screenshot
On most Linux distributions, “ls” prints directories in dark blue text. Run an X terminal (such as XTerm) in reverse video, and you get directories in dark-blue-on-black text. I decided that anything would be better, and started looking for solutions. The first solution I found was Solarized.
In addition to the main Solarized theme (which includes color schemes for vim and for X terminals), I also installed Solarized Dark themes for ls, for Midnight Commander and for Eclipse.
The results as you can see, are pleasant. They are also consistent enough not to cause offence.