SQL Server 2008 brings with it the ability to change the color of the status bar in Management Studio per your choosing. This is especially good to distinguish between production and non-production machines, or if you simply wish to have a different color other than the default gray.

However, the only way to do this is in the properties of a server when registering it under Registered Servers (Ctrl-Alt-G). Add a new server and in the connection properties, select the color you wish for this particular server.

I have a short video demonstrating it:

SQL Server Management Studio color example