Changing application workspace color
 

I just started using Linux last week. I've made more progress than I expected, I guess, but haven't been able to figure out one thing that's important to me: Is it possible to change the background color of the workspace in an application? In Windows this is very easy. I need to change the background from white to gray or another darker color in OpenOffice.org because the white background hurts my eyes unless I turn brightness down so far on the monitor that it interferes with using other applications.

I have the Mandrake 8.0 distribution running with Gnome 1.4 as my desktop manager; Sawfish is the window manager.

Thanks in advance for any help!