diff --git a/_common.R b/_common.R
index e935cfea4..2879ee447 100644
--- a/_common.R
+++ b/_common.R
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ options(
 )
 
 ggplot2::theme_set(ggplot2::theme_gray(12))
+ggplot2::theme_update(
+  panel.background = ggplot2::element_rect(
+    fill = rgb(207, 207, 207, maxColorValue = 255)
+  )
+)
 
 status <- function(type) {
   status <- switch(type,