diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 18f478991..4272d8fb0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 
 - [Ensure we respect both `frame` and `bounds` changes](https://github.com/kyleve/Listable/pull/227) to update the inner `CollectionView`'s frame. We previously used to only respect `frame` changes, but we should also respect `bounds` changes, as these are used by auto layout.
 
+- [`Appearance.backgroundColor` now respects the current `UITraitCollection.userInterfaceStyle`](https://github.com/kyleve/Listable/pull/231). This means that the background color will default to `white` in light mode, and `black` in dark mode.
+
 ### Added
 
 - [Introduce `onSelectionChanged` on `ListStateObserver`](https://github.com/kyleve/Listable/pull/223) to allow observing when the selected rows change.
diff --git a/ListableUI/Sources/Appearance.swift b/ListableUI/Sources/Appearance.swift
index 53b49f471..bccdc518c 100644
--- a/ListableUI/Sources/Appearance.swift
+++ b/ListableUI/Sources/Appearance.swift
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public struct Appearance : Equatable
         
     /// Creates a new appearance object with the provided options.
     public init(
-        backgroundColor : UIColor = .white,
+        backgroundColor : UIColor = Self.defaultBackgroundColor,
         showsScrollIndicators : Bool = true,
         configure : (inout Self) -> () = { _ in }
     ) {
@@ -32,4 +32,22 @@ public struct Appearance : Equatable
         
         configure(&self)
     }
+    
+    /// The default background color for the `Appearance`.
+    public static var defaultBackgroundColor : UIColor {
+        if #available(iOS 13.0, *) {
+            return UIColor { traits in
+                switch traits.userInterfaceStyle {
+                case .unspecified, .light:
+                    return .white
+                case .dark:
+                    return .black
+                @unknown default:
+                    return .white
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            return .white
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/ListableUI/Tests/AppearanceTests.swift b/ListableUI/Tests/AppearanceTests.swift
index 99bb9847e..e48c4ad63 100644
--- a/ListableUI/Tests/AppearanceTests.swift
+++ b/ListableUI/Tests/AppearanceTests.swift
@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@ class AppearanceTests: XCTestCase
     {
         let appearance = Appearance()
         
-        XCTAssertEqual(appearance.backgroundColor, .white)
+        if #available(iOS 13.0, *) {
+            XCTAssertEqual(appearance.backgroundColor.resolvedColor(with: .init(userInterfaceStyle: .dark)), .black)
+            XCTAssertEqual(appearance.backgroundColor.resolvedColor(with: .init(userInterfaceStyle: .light)), .white)
+        } else {
+            XCTAssertEqual(appearance.backgroundColor, .white)
+        }
+        
         XCTAssertEqual(appearance.showsScrollIndicators, true)
     }
 }