diff --git a/application/res/layout/conversations.xml b/application/res/layout/conversations.xml
index 0c1a88c..a75cdb2 100644
--- a/application/res/layout/conversations.xml
+++ b/application/res/layout/conversations.xml
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ along with Yaaic.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:layout_weight="1"
             android:inputType="textImeMultiLine"
+            android:background="@layout/input_background"
             android:imeOptions="actionSend" />
         <Button
             android:id="@+id/speech"
diff --git a/application/res/layout/input_background.xml b/application/res/layout/input_background.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94ed55f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/application/res/layout/input_background.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!-- 
+Yaaic - Yet Another Android IRC Client
+
+Copyright 2009-2011 Sebastian Kaspari
+
+This file is part of Yaaic.
+
+Yaaic is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+Yaaic is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with Yaaic.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+-->
+<shape
+    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    android:shape="rectangle">
+    <stroke
+        android:width="1dp"
+        android:color="#3f5d9b" />
+    <padding
+        android:left="3dp"
+        android:top="3dp"
+        android:right="3dp"
+        android:bottom="3dp" />  
+    <solid
+        android:color="#ffffff" />
+</shape>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/application/src/org/yaaic/activity/ConversationActivity.java b/application/src/org/yaaic/activity/ConversationActivity.java
index 18d4439..4520cd8 100644
--- a/application/src/org/yaaic/activity/ConversationActivity.java
+++ b/application/src/org/yaaic/activity/ConversationActivity.java
@@ -213,7 +213,12 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends Activity implements ServiceConnection,
 
         DisplayMetrics dm = new DisplayMetrics();
         getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(dm);
-        indicator.setTextSize(settings.getFontSize() * dm.scaledDensity);
+        float fontSize = settings.getFontSize() * dm.scaledDensity;
+        indicator.setTextSize(fontSize);
+
+        int padding = (int) (5 * dm.scaledDensity);
+        input.setPadding(padding, padding, padding, padding);
+        indicator.setTypeface(Typeface.MONOSPACE);
 
         // Optimization : cache field lookups
         Collection<Conversation> mConversations = server.getConversations();