// Draws the backgrounds for entire ListView items.
private void listView1_DrawItem(object sender,
    DrawListViewItemEventArgs e)
{
    if ((e.State & ListViewItemStates.Selected) != 0)
    {
        // Draw the background and focus rectangle for a selected item.
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Maroon, e.Bounds);
        e.DrawFocusRectangle();
    }
    else
    {
        // Draw the background for an unselected item.
        using (LinearGradientBrush brush =
            new LinearGradientBrush(e.Bounds, Color.Orange,
            Color.Maroon, LinearGradientMode.Horizontal))
        {
            e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brush, e.Bounds);
        }
    }

    // Draw the item text for views other than the Details view.
    if (listView1.View != View.Details)
    {
        e.DrawText();
    }
}