diff --git a/src/Project.cpp b/src/Project.cpp
index 435d8042f..b0442082e 100644
--- a/src/Project.cpp
+++ b/src/Project.cpp
@@ -827,7 +827,7 @@ AudacityProject::AudacityProject(wxWindow * parent, wxWindowID id,
      mViewInfo(0.0, 1.0, ZoomInfo::GetDefaultZoom())
 {
 
-   SetBackgroundColour(*wxRED);
+   SetBackgroundColour(theTheme.Colour( clrMedium ));
    // Note that the first field of the status bar is a dummy, and it's width is set
    // to zero latter in the code. This field is needed for wxWidgets 2.8.12 because
    // if you move to the menu bar, the first field of the menu bar is cleared, which
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ AudacityProject::AudacityProject(wxWindow * parent, wxWindowID id,
    //pPage->SetBackgroundColour( theTheme.Colour( clrDark ));
 #endif
 
-   pPage->SetBackgroundColour(*wxRED);
+   pPage->SetBackgroundColour(theTheme.Colour( clrMedium ));
 
    wxBoxSizer *bs;
    {
diff --git a/src/toolbars/ToolDock.cpp b/src/toolbars/ToolDock.cpp
index b826eee26..af367d56a 100644
--- a/src/toolbars/ToolDock.cpp
+++ b/src/toolbars/ToolDock.cpp
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ ToolDock::ToolDock( ToolManager *manager, wxWindow *parent, int dockid ):
 
    // Init
    mManager = manager;
-   SetBackgroundColour(*wxRED);
+   SetBackgroundColour(theTheme.Colour( clrMedium ));
    // Use for testing gaps
    // SetOwnBackgroundColour( wxColour( 255, 0, 0 ) );
 }