diff --git a/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py b/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py
index 3b73788b..7d5dc353 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class PlotSettings(BaseModel):
         scan_types (bool): Indicates if the configuration is for different scan types.
     """
 
-    background_color: str
+    background_color: Literal["black", "white"] = "black"
     axis_width: Optional[int] = 2
     axis_color: Optional[str] = None
     num_columns: int