diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/andstatus/todoagenda/prefs/ApplicationPreferences.java b/app/src/main/java/org/andstatus/todoagenda/prefs/ApplicationPreferences.java
index b3eae216..9edcf7d0 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/andstatus/todoagenda/prefs/ApplicationPreferences.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/andstatus/todoagenda/prefs/ApplicationPreferences.java
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 import java.util.List;
 
+import androidx.annotation.ColorInt;
+
 public class ApplicationPreferences {
     public static final String PREF_WIDGET_ID = "widgetId";
 
@@ -62,13 +64,13 @@ public class ApplicationPreferences {
 
     // Colors
     static final String PREF_WIDGET_HEADER_BACKGROUND_COLOR = "widgetHeaderBackgroundColor";
-    static final int PREF_WIDGET_HEADER_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = Color.TRANSPARENT;
+    @ColorInt static final int PREF_WIDGET_HEADER_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = Color.TRANSPARENT;
     static final String PREF_PAST_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR = "pastEventsBackgroundColor";
-    static final int PREF_PAST_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = 0x4affff2b;
+    @ColorInt static final int PREF_PAST_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = 0xBF78782C;
     static final String PREF_TODAYS_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR = "todaysEventsBackgroundColor";
-    static final int PREF_TODAYS_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = 0x4A5FFF5D;
+    @ColorInt static final int PREF_TODAYS_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = 0xBF3E96AB;
     static final String PREF_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR = "backgroundColor";
-    static final int PREF_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = 0x80000000;
+    @ColorInt static final int PREF_EVENTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR_DEFAULT = 0x80000000;
 
     private static volatile String lockedTimeZoneId = null;
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences_colors.xml b/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences_colors.xml
index 1135a004..f86d791d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences_colors.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences_colors.xml
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@
 
         <com.rarepebble.colorpicker.ColorPreference
             android:key="pastEventsBackgroundColor"
-            android:defaultValue="#4affff2b"
+            android:defaultValue="#BF78782C"
             android:summary="@string/appearance_past_events_background_color_desc"
             android:title="@string/appearance_past_events_background_color_title"
             app:colorpicker_selectNoneButtonText="@string/default_value" />
 
         <com.rarepebble.colorpicker.ColorPreference
             android:key="todaysEventsBackgroundColor"
-            android:defaultValue="#4A5FFF5D"
+            android:defaultValue="#BF3E96AB"
             android:summary="@string/todays_events_background_color_desc"
             android:title="@string/todays_events_background_color_title"
             app:colorpicker_selectNoneButtonText="@string/default_value" />