diff --git a/theme.cpp b/theme.cpp
index e550d2afb..28f5d01d4 100644
--- a/theme.cpp
+++ b/theme.cpp
@@ -167,6 +167,12 @@ QColor Theme::textColor() const
     return colors.foreground(KColorScheme::NormalText).color();
 }
 
+QColor Theme::backgroundColor() const
+{
+    KColorScheme colors(QPalette::Active, KColorScheme::Window, Theme::self()->colors());
+    return colors.background().color();
+}
+
 void Theme::setFont(const QFont &font)
 {
     d->generalFont = font;
diff --git a/theme.h b/theme.h
index c108ab86d..6cb06e4b5 100644
--- a/theme.h
+++ b/theme.h
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Theme : public QObject
          */
         Q_INVOKABLE QColor textColor() const;
 
+        /**
+         * Returns the background color to be used by items resting on the background
+         */
+        Q_INVOKABLE QColor backgroundColor() const;
+
         /**
          * Sets the default font to be used with themed items. Defaults to
          * the application wide default font.