uno spunto in js, per browser recenti...

<HEAD>
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javascript">


function newBG(id,color){
var s = document.getElementById(id).getElementsByTagName(" td");
for (i=0; i<s.length; i++){
s[i].style.backgroundColor = color;
}
}
</SCRIPT>
</HEAD>
<BODY>

<table id="T1">
<tr><td>aaa</td></tr>
<tr><td>aaa</td></tr>
<tr><td>aaa</td></tr>
</table>

<form>
<input type="button" onClick="newBG('T1','red')" VALUE="red">
<input type="button" onClick="newBG('T1','white')" VALUE="white">
<input type="button" onClick="newBG('T1','blue')" VALUE="blue">
</form>


....