This package defines a face named `parenthesis-face'. Enable `parenthesis-face-mode' to use that face for all parentheses in buffers whose major-mode is listed in `parenthesis-face-modes' or which derives from a listed mode. Alternatively, to enable use of that face for only a certain mode, without affecting derived modes, use something like: (font-lock-add-keywords 'emacs-lisp-mode parenthesis-face-keywords) You might also be interested in the `bracket-face' package.