diff --git a/docs/reference/config.md b/docs/reference/config.md
index 6dc3fe41..c71b9e00 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.md
+++ b/docs/reference/config.md
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ Each object in the array is a preset with the following properties:
 
 - `label: string`: Label for the preset.
 - `color: string`: Color of the preset.
+- `contrastColor?: string`: Contrast color of preset
 
 Default values are shown in the example below:
 
@@ -261,27 +262,40 @@ export default defineConfig({
     {
       label: 'Transparent',
       color: 'transparent',
+      contrastColor: '#333'
     },
     {
       label: 'White',
       color: '#fff',
+      contrastColor: '#333'
     },
     {
       label: 'Light gray',
       color: '#aaa',
+      contrastColor: '#eee'
     },
     {
       label: 'Dark gray',
       color: '#333',
+      contrastColor: '#ccc'
     },
     {
       label: 'Black',
       color: '#000',
+      contrastColor: '#fff'
     },
   ],
 })
 ```
 
+You can use current contrast color via the css variable `--histoire-contrast-color`:
+
+```css
+.my-class {
+  color: var(--histoire-contrast-color);
+}
+```
+
 ## `sandboxDarkClass`
 
 `string` - Default: `'dark'`
diff --git a/examples/vue3/cypress/integration/stories-list.js b/examples/vue3/cypress/integration/stories-list.js
index b79aa44d..a6acb601 100644
--- a/examples/vue3/cypress/integration/stories-list.js
+++ b/examples/vue3/cypress/integration/stories-list.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ describe('Stories list', () => {
   it('should display the stories', () => {
     cy.clearLocalStorage()
     cy.visit('/')
-    cy.get('[data-test-id="story-list-item"]').should('have.length', 26)
+    cy.get('[data-test-id="story-list-item"]').should('have.length', 27)
     cy.get('[data-test-id="story-list-item"]').contains('🐱 Meow')
     cy.get('[data-test-id="story-list-item"]').contains('BaseButton')
       .contains('3') // Variants count
diff --git a/examples/vue3/cypress/integration/toolbar-background.js b/examples/vue3/cypress/integration/toolbar-background.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ad3ff05f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/vue3/cypress/integration/toolbar-background.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/// <reference types="cypress" />
+
+describe('background color', () => {
+  const getIframeBody = () => cy.get('iframe[data-test-id="preview-iframe"]')
+    .its('0.contentDocument.body').should('not.be.empty')
+    .then(cy.wrap)
+
+  const backgroundColorShouldBe = [
+    'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)',
+    'rgb(255, 255, 255)',
+    'rgb(170, 170, 170)',
+    'rgb(51, 51, 51)',
+    'rgb(0, 0, 0)',
+    'rgb(202, 255, 245)',
+  ]
+
+  const contrastColorShouldBe = [
+    'rgb(51, 51, 51)',
+    'rgb(51, 51, 51)',
+    'rgb(0, 0, 0)',
+    'rgb(255, 255, 255)',
+    'rgb(238, 238, 238)',
+    'rgb(0, 81, 66)',
+  ]
+
+  it('should provide background and contrast color (no iframe)', () => {
+    cy.visit('/story/src-components-complexparameter-story-vue?variantId=_default')
+    cy.get('[data-test-id="toolbar-background"]').click()
+    cy.get('[data-test-id="background-popper"]').should('be.visible').find('button').should('have.length', 6).each(($el, index) => {
+      cy.wrap($el).click()
+      cy.get('[data-test-id="responsive-preview-bg"]').should('have.css', 'background-color', backgroundColorShouldBe[index])
+      cy.get('[data-test-id="story-variant-single-view"] .native-story').should('have.css', 'color', contrastColorShouldBe[index])
+      cy.get('[data-test-id="toolbar-background"]').click()
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should provide background and contrast color (with iframe)', () => {
+    cy.visit('story/src-components-contrastcolor-story-vue?variantId=_default')
+    cy.get('[data-test-id="toolbar-background"]').click()
+    cy.get('[data-test-id="background-popper"]').should('be.visible').find('button').should('have.length', 6).each(($el, index) => {
+      cy.wrap($el).click()
+      getIframeBody().find('.contrast-color').should('have.css', 'color', contrastColorShouldBe[index])
+      cy.get('[data-test-id="toolbar-background"]').click()
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should provide background and contrast color (grid)', () => {
+    cy.visit('/story/src-components-substory-story-vue?variantId=src-components-substory-story-vue-0')
+    cy.get('[data-test-id="toolbar-background"]').click()
+    cy.get('[data-test-id="background-popper"]').should('be.visible').find('button').should('have.length', 6).each(($el, index) => {
+      cy.wrap($el).click()
+      cy.get('[data-test-id="responsive-preview-bg"]').should('have.css', 'background-color', backgroundColorShouldBe[index])
+      cy.get('.__histoire-sandbox .text').should('have.css', 'color', contrastColorShouldBe[index])
+      cy.get('[data-test-id="toolbar-background"]').click()
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/examples/vue3/histoire.config.ts b/examples/vue3/histoire.config.ts
index a9fed307..a24d6981 100644
--- a/examples/vue3/histoire.config.ts
+++ b/examples/vue3/histoire.config.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { defineConfig } from 'histoire'
+import { defineConfig, getDefaultConfig } from 'histoire'
 import { HstVue } from '@histoire/plugin-vue'
 
 export default defineConfig({
@@ -6,4 +6,12 @@ export default defineConfig({
   plugins: [
     HstVue(),
   ],
+  backgroundPresets: [
+    ...(getDefaultConfig().backgroundPresets || []),
+    {
+      label: 'Custom gray',
+      color: '#cafff5',
+      contrastColor: '#005142',
+    },
+  ],
 })
diff --git a/examples/vue3/src/components/ComplexParameter.vue b/examples/vue3/src/components/ComplexParameter.vue
index e261054b..85ebee1d 100644
--- a/examples/vue3/src/components/ComplexParameter.vue
+++ b/examples/vue3/src/components/ComplexParameter.vue
@@ -18,3 +18,9 @@ const props = defineProps<{
     {{ recursiveParameter.name }}
   </div>
 </template>
+
+<style scoped>
+.native-story{
+  color: var(--histoire-contrast-color)
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/examples/vue3/src/components/ContrastColor.story.vue b/examples/vue3/src/components/ContrastColor.story.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2326eb84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/vue3/src/components/ContrastColor.story.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<template>
+  <Story>
+    <span class="contrast-color">Contrast color</span>
+  </Story>
+</template>
+
+<style scoped>
+.contrast-color{
+  color: var(--histoire-contrast-color)
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/examples/vue3/src/components/SubStory.story.vue b/examples/vue3/src/components/SubStory.story.vue
index f477f8f6..96c36322 100644
--- a/examples/vue3/src/components/SubStory.story.vue
+++ b/examples/vue3/src/components/SubStory.story.vue
@@ -7,7 +7,15 @@
     }"
   >
     <Variant title="default">
-      <p>This is a sub story</p>
+      <p class="text">
+        This is a sub story
+      </p>
     </Variant>
   </Story>
 </template>
+
+<style scoped>
+.text {
+  color: var(--histoire-contrast-color);
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryResponsivePreview.vue b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryResponsivePreview.vue
index 53b8dff9..5c2f1398 100644
--- a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryResponsivePreview.vue
+++ b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryResponsivePreview.vue
@@ -139,7 +139,10 @@ const isResponsiveEnabled = computed(() => !props.variant.responsiveDisabled)
           'htw-h-fit': !!finalHeight
         } : undefined"
       >
-        <div class="bind-preview-bg htw-rounded-lg htw-h-full">
+        <div
+          class="bind-preview-bg htw-rounded-lg htw-h-full"
+          data-test-id="responsive-preview-bg"
+        >
           <CheckerboardPattern
             v-if="settings.checkerboard"
             class="htw-absolute htw-inset-0 htw-w-full htw-h-full htw-text-gray-500/20"
diff --git a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantGridItem.vue b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantGridItem.vue
index 7cc9db6e..35a95acb 100644
--- a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantGridItem.vue
+++ b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantGridItem.vue
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { usePreviewSettingsStore } from '../../stores/preview-settings'
 import GenericRenderStory from './GenericRenderStory.vue'
 import ToolbarNewTab from '../toolbar/ToolbarNewTab.vue'
 import CheckerboardPattern from '../misc/CheckerboardPattern.vue'
+import { getContrastColor } from '../../util/preview-settings'
 
 const props = defineProps({
   variant: {
@@ -109,14 +110,22 @@ const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
       @click.stop="selectVariant()"
       @keyup="selectVariant()"
     >
-      <div class="htw-absolute htw-inset-0 htw-rounded bind-preview-bg" />
+      <div
+        class="htw-absolute htw-inset-0 htw-rounded bind-preview-bg"
+        data-test-id="responsive-preview-bg"
+      />
 
       <CheckerboardPattern
         v-if="settings.checkerboard"
         class="htw-absolute htw-inset-0 htw-w-full htw-h-full htw-text-gray-500/20"
       />
 
-      <div class="htw-relative htw-h-full">
+      <div
+        class="htw-relative htw-h-full"
+        :style="{
+          '--histoire-contrast-color': getContrastColor(settings),
+        }"
+      >
         <GenericRenderStory
           :key="`${story.id}-${variant.id}`"
           :variant="variant"
diff --git a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantSinglePreviewNative.vue b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantSinglePreviewNative.vue
index a4813c9a..b5165f10 100644
--- a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantSinglePreviewNative.vue
+++ b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/story/StoryVariantSinglePreviewNative.vue
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { isDark } from '../../util/dark'
 import { histoireConfig } from '../../util/config'
 import { usePreviewSettingsStore } from '../../stores/preview-settings'
 import StoryResponsivePreview from './StoryResponsivePreview.vue'
+import { getContrastColor } from '../../util/preview-settings'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   story: Story
@@ -31,10 +32,15 @@ const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
     :variant="variant"
   >
     <div
-      :style="isResponsiveEnabled ? {
-        width: finalWidth ? `${finalWidth}px` : '100%',
-        height: finalHeight ? `${finalHeight}px` : '100%',
-      } : { width: '100%', height: '100%' }"
+      :style="[
+        isResponsiveEnabled ? {
+          width: finalWidth ? `${finalWidth}px` : '100%',
+          height: finalHeight ? `${finalHeight}px` : '100%',
+        } : { width: '100%', height: '100%' },
+        {
+          '--histoire-contrast-color': getContrastColor(settings),
+        },
+      ]"
       class="htw-relative"
       data-test-id="sandbox-render"
     >
diff --git a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/toolbar/ToolbarBackground.vue b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/toolbar/ToolbarBackground.vue
index add0bab3..5f0d7f7c 100644
--- a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/toolbar/ToolbarBackground.vue
+++ b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/components/toolbar/ToolbarBackground.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 <script lang="ts" setup>
 import { Icon } from '@iconify/vue'
+import { computed } from 'vue'
 import { usePreviewSettingsStore } from '../../stores/preview-settings'
 import { histoireConfig } from '../../util/config'
+import { getContrastColor } from '../../util/preview-settings'
 import BaseCheckbox from '../base/BaseCheckbox.vue'
 
 const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
+
+const contrastColor = computed(() => getContrastColor(settings))
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -13,14 +17,17 @@ const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
     placement="bottom-end"
     :skidding="6"
     class="histoire-toolbar-background htw-h-full htw-flex-none"
+    data-test-id="toolbar-background"
   >
     <div
       v-tooltip="'Background color'"
       class="htw-cursor-pointer hover:htw-text-primary-500 htw-flex htw-items-center htw-gap-1 htw-h-full htw-px-2 htw-group"
     >
       <div
-        class="bind-preview-bg htw-w-4 htw-h-4 htw-rounded-full htw-border htw-border-black/50 dark:htw-border-white/50"
-      />
+        class="bind-preview-bg htw-w-4 htw-h-4 htw-rounded-full htw-border htw-border-black/50 dark:htw-border-white/50 htw-flex htw-items-center htw-justify-center htw-text-xs"
+      >
+        <span v-if="contrastColor">a</span>
+      </div>
       <Icon
         icon="carbon:caret-down"
         class="htw-w-4 htw-h-4 htw-opacity-50 group-hover:htw-opacity-100"
@@ -28,7 +35,10 @@ const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
     </div>
 
     <template #popper="{ hide }">
-      <div class="htw-flex htw-flex-col htw-items-stretch">
+      <div
+        class="htw-flex htw-flex-col htw-items-stretch"
+        data-test-id="background-popper"
+      >
         <BaseCheckbox v-model="settings.checkerboard">
           Checkerboard
         </BaseCheckbox>
@@ -36,7 +46,7 @@ const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
         <button
           v-for="(option, index) in histoireConfig.backgroundPresets"
           :key="index"
-          class="htw-px-4 htw-py-3 htw-cursor-pointer htw-text-left htw-flex htw-gap-4"
+          class="htw-px-4 htw-py-3 htw-cursor-pointer htw-text-left htw-flex htw-items-baseline htw-gap-4"
           :class="[
             settings.backgroundColor === option.color
               ? 'htw-bg-primary-500 hover:htw-bg-primary-600 htw-text-white dark:htw-text-black'
@@ -48,11 +58,14 @@ const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
           <template v-if="option.color !== '$checkerboard'">
             <span class="htw-ml-auto htw-opacity-70">{{ option.color }}</span>
             <div
-              class="htw-w-4 htw-h-4 htw-rounded-full htw-border htw-border-black/20 dark:htw-border-white/20"
+              class="htw-w-4 htw-h-4 htw-rounded-full htw-border htw-border-black/20 dark:htw-border-white/20 htw-flex htw-items-center htw-justify-center htw-text-xs"
               :style="{
                 backgroundColor: option.color,
+                color: option.contrastColor,
               }"
-            />
+            >
+              <span v-if="option.contrastColor">a</span>
+            </div>
           </template>
         </button>
       </div>
@@ -63,5 +76,6 @@ const settings = usePreviewSettingsStore().currentSettings
 <style scoped>
 .bind-preview-bg {
   background-color: v-bind('settings.backgroundColor');
+  color: v-bind('contrastColor');
 }
 </style>
diff --git a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/util/preview-settings.ts b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/util/preview-settings.ts
index ab6d48ea..e6354f24 100644
--- a/packages/histoire-app/src/app/util/preview-settings.ts
+++ b/packages/histoire-app/src/app/util/preview-settings.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { reactive } from 'vue'
+import { histoireConfig } from './config'
 import type { PreviewSettings } from '../types'
 
 export const receivedSettings = reactive<PreviewSettings>({} as PreviewSettings)
@@ -6,5 +7,13 @@ export const receivedSettings = reactive<PreviewSettings>({} as PreviewSettings)
 export function applyPreviewSettings (settings: PreviewSettings) {
   Object.assign(receivedSettings, settings)
 
+  // Text direction
   document.documentElement.setAttribute('dir', settings.textDirection)
+
+  // Contrast color
+  document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--histoire-contrast-color', getContrastColor(settings))
+}
+
+export function getContrastColor (setting: PreviewSettings) {
+  return histoireConfig.backgroundPresets.find(preset => preset.color === setting.backgroundColor)?.contrastColor ?? 'unset'
 }
diff --git a/packages/histoire-shared/src/types/config.ts b/packages/histoire-shared/src/types/config.ts
index 3661bf34..6d52eaed 100644
--- a/packages/histoire-shared/src/types/config.ts
+++ b/packages/histoire-shared/src/types/config.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export interface ResponsivePreset {
 export interface BackgroundPreset {
   label: string
   color: string
+  contrastColor?: string
 }
 
 export interface TreeGroupConfig {
diff --git a/packages/histoire/src/node/config.ts b/packages/histoire/src/node/config.ts
index 8546ffbb..c1a1e806 100644
--- a/packages/histoire/src/node/config.ts
+++ b/packages/histoire/src/node/config.ts
@@ -93,22 +93,27 @@ export function getDefaultConfig (): HistoireConfig {
       {
         label: 'Transparent',
         color: 'transparent',
+        contrastColor: '#333',
       },
       {
         label: 'White',
         color: '#fff',
+        contrastColor: '#333',
       },
       {
         label: 'Light gray',
         color: '#aaa',
+        contrastColor: '#000',
       },
       {
         label: 'Dark gray',
         color: '#333',
+        contrastColor: '#fff',
       },
       {
         label: 'Black',
         color: '#000',
+        contrastColor: '#eee',
       },
     ],
     sandboxDarkClass: 'dark',