diff --git a/extensions/theme-abyss/themes/abyss-color-theme.json b/extensions/theme-abyss/themes/abyss-color-theme.json
index 5b2c2e1e546..9901ee0d6b8 100644
--- a/extensions/theme-abyss/themes/abyss-color-theme.json
+++ b/extensions/theme-abyss/themes/abyss-color-theme.json
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@
 		// "activityBar.dropBackground": "",
 
 		// Workbench: Panel
+		// "panel.background": "",
 		"panel.border": "#2b2b4a",
 		// "panelTitle.activeBorder": "",
 		// "panelTitle.activeForeground": "",
diff --git a/extensions/theme-quietlight/themes/quietlight-color-theme.json b/extensions/theme-quietlight/themes/quietlight-color-theme.json
index 5ab654716a7..e1d9201c6d7 100644
--- a/extensions/theme-quietlight/themes/quietlight-color-theme.json
+++ b/extensions/theme-quietlight/themes/quietlight-color-theme.json
@@ -466,6 +466,7 @@
 		"editorWhitespace.foreground": "#AAAAAA",
 		"editor.lineHighlightBackground": "#E4F6D4",
 		"editor.selectionBackground": "#C9D0D9",
+		"panel.background": "#F5F5F5",
 		"sideBar.background": "#F2F2F2",
 		"sideBarSectionHeader.background": "#ede8ef",
 		"editorLineNumber.foreground": "#9DA39A",
diff --git a/extensions/theme-solarized-dark/themes/solarized-dark-color-theme.json b/extensions/theme-solarized-dark/themes/solarized-dark-color-theme.json
index 542de82d4c8..04967aae331 100644
--- a/extensions/theme-solarized-dark/themes/solarized-dark-color-theme.json
+++ b/extensions/theme-solarized-dark/themes/solarized-dark-color-theme.json
@@ -423,6 +423,7 @@
 		// "activityBarBadge.foreground": "",
 
 		// Workbench: Panel
+		// "panel.background": "",
 		"panel.border": "#2b2b4a",
 		// "panelTitle.activeBorder": "",
 		// "panelTitle.activeForeground": "",
diff --git a/extensions/theme-solarized-light/themes/solarized-light-color-theme.json b/extensions/theme-solarized-light/themes/solarized-light-color-theme.json
index cd42bbaa859..ba74b7d0385 100644
--- a/extensions/theme-solarized-light/themes/solarized-light-color-theme.json
+++ b/extensions/theme-solarized-light/themes/solarized-light-color-theme.json
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@
 		// "activityBarBadge.foreground": "",
 
 		// Workbench: Panel
+		// "panel.background": "",
 		"panel.border": "#DDD6C1",
 		// "panelTitle.activeBorder": "",
 		// "panelTitle.activeForeground": "",
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts
index 1a8f0cf4529..8ad40e000be 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ import { IInstantiationService } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instanti
 import { ActionsOrientation, ActionBar } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/actionbar/actionbar';
 import { ClosePanelAction, PanelAction, ToggleMaximizedPanelAction } from 'vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelActions';
 import { IThemeService, registerThemingParticipant, ITheme, ICssStyleCollector } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/themeService';
-import { PANEL_BORDER, PANEL_ACTIVE_TITLE_FOREGROUND, PANEL_INACTIVE_TITLE_FOREGROUND, PANEL_ACTIVE_TITLE_BORDER } from 'vs/workbench/common/theme';
-import { activeContrastBorder, focusBorder, contrastBorder, editorBackground } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/colorRegistry';
+import { PANEL_BACKGROUND, PANEL_BORDER, PANEL_ACTIVE_TITLE_FOREGROUND, PANEL_INACTIVE_TITLE_FOREGROUND, PANEL_ACTIVE_TITLE_BORDER } from 'vs/workbench/common/theme';
+import { activeContrastBorder, focusBorder, contrastBorder } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/colorRegistry';
 
 export class PanelPart extends CompositePart<Panel> implements IPanelService {
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export class PanelPart extends CompositePart<Panel> implements IPanelService {
 		super.updateStyles();
 
 		const container = this.getContainer();
-		container.style('background-color', this.getColor(editorBackground));
+		container.style('background-color', this.getColor(PANEL_BACKGROUND));
 
 		const title = this.getTitleArea();
 		title.style('border-top-color', this.getColor(PANEL_BORDER) || this.getColor(contrastBorder));
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts b/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts
index 3b35554eb6e..4297f3a2df2 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ export const EDITOR_DRAG_AND_DROP_BACKGROUND = registerColor('editorGroup.dropBa
 
 // < --- Panels --- >
 
+export const PANEL_BACKGROUND = registerColor('panel.background', {
+	dark: editorBackground,
+	light: editorBackground,
+	hc: editorBackground
+}, nls.localize('panelBackground', "Panel background color. Panels are shown below the editor area and contain views like output and integrated terminal."));
+
 export const PANEL_BORDER = registerColor('panel.border', {
 	dark: Color.fromHex('#808080').transparent(0.35),
 	light: Color.fromHex('#808080').transparent(0.35),