diff --git a/src/routes/boards/[boardId]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/boards/[boardId]/+page.svelte
index 2aff02e..72aa357 100644
--- a/src/routes/boards/[boardId]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/boards/[boardId]/+page.svelte
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 	import CardModal from '$lib/components/CardModal.svelte';
 	import ActivityFeed from '$lib/components/ActivityFeed.svelte';
 	import BoardFilters from '$lib/components/BoardFilters.svelte';
-	import BoardBackgroundPicker from '$lib/components/BoardBackgroundPicker.svelte';
 	import BulkToolbar from '$lib/components/BulkToolbar.svelte';
 	import ColumnSortMenu from '$lib/components/ColumnSortMenu.svelte';
 	import Avatar from '$lib/components/Avatar.svelte';
@@ -38,8 +37,8 @@
 	let showArchivedCards = $state(false);
 	let archivedCards = $state<any[]>([]);
 	let activeFilters = $state<FilterState>({ labelIds: [], assigneeIds: [], due: null });
-	let selectMode = $state(false);
 	let selectedCardIds = $state(new Set<string>());
+	let selectMode = $derived(selectedCardIds.size > 0);
 	let columnSorts = $state<Record<string, string | null>>({});
 
 	const flipDurationMs = 200;
@@ -488,21 +487,6 @@
 			</div>
 		{/if}
 
-		{#if data.canEdit}
-			<button
-				onclick={() => { selectMode = !selectMode; if (!selectMode) selectedCardIds = new Set(); }}
-				class="rounded px-2 py-1 text-sm text-gray-500 hover:bg-gray-200 hover:text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-400 dark:hover:bg-gray-700 dark:hover:text-gray-300 transition flex items-center gap-1"
-				class:bg-gray-200={selectMode}
-				title="Select cards for bulk actions"
-			>
-				<svg class="w-4 h-4" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="currentColor">
-					<path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M16.707 5.293a1 1 0 010 1.414l-8 8a1 1 0 01-1.414 0l-4-4a1 1 0 011.414-1.414L8 12.586l7.293-7.293a1 1 0 011.414 0z" clip-rule="evenodd" />
-				</svg>
-				Select
-			</button>
-			<BoardBackgroundPicker boardId={data.board.id} currentBackground={data.board.background || null} />
-		{/if}
-
 		<button
 			onclick={() => toggleArchivedCards()}
 			class="ml-auto rounded px-2 py-1 text-sm text-gray-500 hover:bg-gray-200 hover:text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-400 dark:hover:bg-gray-700 dark:hover:text-gray-300 transition flex items-center gap-1"
@@ -554,7 +538,7 @@
 	</div>
 
 	<!-- Main area: columns + optional activity sidebar -->
-	<div class="flex-1 flex overflow-hidden" style="{data.board.background ? `background: ${data.board.background}; background-size: cover; background-position: center;` : ''}">
+	<div class="flex-1 flex overflow-hidden">
 	<!-- Columns container -->
 	<div class="flex-1 overflow-x-auto p-4">
 		<div
@@ -644,8 +628,8 @@
 						{#each visibleCards as card (card.id)}
 							{@const progress = getChecklistProgress(card)}
 							{@const dueUrgency = getDueUrgency(card.dueDate)}
-							<button
-								class="w-full text-left mb-2 p-3 shadow-sm hover:shadow-md transition cursor-pointer {selectMode && selectedCardIds.has(card.id) ? 'ring-2 ring-[var(--color-primary)]' : ''}"
+							<div
+								class="group/card relative w-full text-left mb-2 p-3 shadow-sm hover:shadow-md transition cursor-pointer {selectedCardIds.has(card.id) ? 'ring-2 ring-[var(--color-primary)]' : ''}"
 								style="background: var(--color-card-bg); border: 1px solid var(--color-card-border); color: var(--color-card-text); border-radius: var(--color-card-radius); backdrop-filter: var(--card-backdrop-blur, none);"
 								animate:flip={{ duration: flipDurationMs }}
 								onclick={() => {
@@ -658,7 +642,32 @@
 										selectedCard = card;
 									}
 								}}
+								role="button"
+								tabindex="0"
+								onkeydown={(e) => { if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') { e.preventDefault(); selectedCard = card; } }}
 							>
+								{#if data.canEdit}
+									<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_click_events_have_key_events -->
+									<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+									<div
+										class="absolute top-1.5 right-1.5 z-10 {selectedCardIds.has(card.id) ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0 group-hover/card:opacity-100'} transition-opacity"
+										onclick={(e) => {
+											e.stopPropagation();
+											const next = new Set(selectedCardIds);
+											if (next.has(card.id)) next.delete(card.id);
+											else next.add(card.id);
+											selectedCardIds = next;
+										}}
+									>
+										<div class="w-5 h-5 rounded border-2 flex items-center justify-center cursor-pointer {selectedCardIds.has(card.id) ? 'bg-[var(--color-primary)] border-[var(--color-primary)]' : 'border-gray-300 dark:border-gray-500 bg-white dark:bg-gray-700 hover:border-[var(--color-primary)]'} transition">
+											{#if selectedCardIds.has(card.id)}
+												<svg class="w-3 h-3 text-white" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="currentColor">
+													<path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M16.707 5.293a1 1 0 010 1.414l-8 8a1 1 0 01-1.414 0l-4-4a1 1 0 011.414-1.414L8 12.586l7.293-7.293a1 1 0 011.414 0z" clip-rule="evenodd" />
+												</svg>
+											{/if}
+										</div>
+									</div>
+								{/if}
 								{#if card.labels && card.labels.length > 0}
 									<div class="flex flex-wrap gap-1 mb-1.5">
 										{#each card.labels as label}
@@ -722,7 +731,7 @@
 										{/if}
 									</div>
 								{/if}
-							</button>
+							</div>
 						{/each}
 					</div>
 
@@ -863,13 +872,10 @@
 		{selectedCardIds}
 		{columns}
 		onaction={() => {
-			selectMode = false;
 			selectedCardIds = new Set();
-			// Reload page data
 			window.location.reload();
 		}}
 		oncancel={() => {
-			selectMode = false;
 			selectedCardIds = new Set();
 		}}
 	/>