 <p>Make necessary improvements you need. This will get you started.</p> <p><a href="http://jsfiddle.net/eTJGV/1/" rel="nofollow">http://jsfiddle.net/eTJGV/1/</a></p> <p>Use jquery change property,</p> <pre><code>$('#color').change(function(){ var color = $(this).val(); $('textarea').css('background-color',color); }); </code></pre>