diff --git a/public/css/bg_load.css b/public/css/bg_load.css
index 4671f73e6..cfdd06498 100644
--- a/public/css/bg_load.css
+++ b/public/css/bg_load.css
@@ -1 +1 @@
-#bg1 {background-image: url(../backgrounds/tavern.png);}
\ No newline at end of file
+#bg1 {background-image: url(../backgrounds/theredlake.png);}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 2d68d41af..540340dda 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -1436,16 +1436,16 @@
                 }
                 
             });
-            $(document).on('click', '.del_checkbox', function(){		//when a checkbox is clicked
+            $(document).on('click', '.del_checkbox', function(){		//when a 'delete message' checkbox is clicked
                 $('.del_checkbox').each(function(){
                     $(this).prop( "checked", false );
                     $(this).parent().css('background', css_mes_bg);
                 });
-                $(this).parent().css('background', "#791b31");			//sets the bg of the selected msg to a muted red
+                $(this).parent().css('background', "#600");			//sets the bg of the mes selected for deletion
                 var i = $(this).parent().attr('mesid');					//checks the message ID in the chat
                 this_del_mes = i;
                 while(i < chat.length){									//as long as the current message ID is less than the total chat length
-                    $(".mes[mesid='"+i+"']").css('background', "#791b31");	//sets the bg of the all msgs BELOW the selected msg to a muted red as well
+                    $(".mes[mesid='"+i+"']").css('background', "#600");	//sets the bg of the all msgs BELOW the selected .mes
                     $(".mes[mesid='"+i+"']").children('.del_checkbox').prop( "checked", true );
                     i++;
                     //console.log(i);
@@ -3167,7 +3167,7 @@
         <div id="chat"></div>
         <div id="form_sheld">            
             <div id="dialogue_del_mes">
-                <div id="dialogue_del_mes_text"><h3></h3></div>
+                <!-- <div id="dialogue_del_mes_text"><h3></h3></div> -->
                 <div id="dialogue_del_mes_ok" class="menu_button">Delete</div>
                 <div id="dialogue_del_mes_cancel" class="menu_button">Cancel</div>
             </div>
diff --git a/public/style.css b/public/style.css
index 28d7e9f25..a7a0f05ad 100644
--- a/public/style.css
+++ b/public/style.css
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ code {
 }
 
 #chat::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
-    margin-bottom: 30px;
+    /*margin-bottom: 30px;*/
 }
 
 ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
@@ -299,13 +299,13 @@ code {
 .mes {
     display: grid;
     grid-template-columns: fit-content(60px) 60px auto;
-    border-radius: 5px;
-    padding: 5px;
-	padding-left: 15px;
+    /* border-radius: 5px; */
+    padding: 10px;
+    padding-left: 15px;
     vertical-align: top;
     width: 100%;
     color: rgb(229, 224, 216);
-    margin-bottom: 26px;
+    /* margin-bottom: 26px;*/
 }
 .avatar {
     width: 60px;
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ width: 103px;
 #dialogue_popup_ok{
     display: inline-block;
     margin-right: 20px;
-    background-color: #791b31;
+    background-color: #c00;
     cursor: pointer;
 }
 #dialogue_popup_cancel{
@@ -1069,15 +1069,17 @@ width: 103px;
     cursor: pointer;
 }
 #dialogue_del_mes{
-    width:100%;
+    width: 100%;
     margin-left: auto;
     margin-right: auto;
+    margin-top: 4px;
     text-align: center;
-    padding: 4px;
+    padding: 0px;
+    height: min-content;
 }
-#dialogue_del_mes_ok{
+#dialogue_del_mes_ok{			/*changes background of OK button in the deletion menu*/
     display: inline-block;
-    background-color: #791b31;
+    background-color: #c00;
     cursor: pointer;
 }
 #dialogue_del_mes_cancel{
@@ -1087,14 +1089,14 @@ width: 103px;
 .menu_button{
     font-weight: bold;
     color: #fff;
-    padding: 0.5em;
-    border: thin solid rgba(200,200,200,0.2);
+    padding: 5px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
     border-radius: 3px;
-    background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
+    background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
 }
 #dialogue_del_mes .menu_button{
-    font-weight: bold;
-    font-size: 20px;
+	font-weight: bold;
+    font-size: 1.25rem;
 
 }
 #shadow_popup{
@@ -1217,19 +1219,20 @@ width: 103px;
 
 
 input[type='checkbox'] {
-  -webkit-appearance: none;
-     -moz-appearance: none;
-          appearance: none;
-  outline: none;
-   position: relative;
-  width: 1.5rem;
-  height: 1.5rem;
-  border: 2px solid #rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
-  overflow: hidden;
-  border-radius: 3px;
-  background-color:white;
-  box-shadow: inset 0 0 3px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
-  cursor: pointer;
+    -webkit-appearance: none;
+    -moz-appearance: none;
+    appearance: none;
+    outline: none;
+    position: relative;
+    width: 1.5rem;
+    height: 1.5rem;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    border-radius: 3px;
+    background-color: white;
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 3px 0 rgb(0 0 0 / 80%);
+    cursor: pointer;
+    margin-top: 18px; /*odd but this is what aligns it with the character avatar*/
+    right: 5px; /*and centers it in the checkbox column*/
 }
 
 input[type='checkbox']::before {