To reproduce: use the following code snippet and refer to the attached gif file: public Form1() { InitializeComponent(); this.radPropertyGrid1.SelectedObject = this; } private void radButton1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { ThemeResolutionService.ApplicationThemeName = "VisualStudio2012Dark"; } private void radButton2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { ThemeResolutionService.ApplicationThemeName = "ControlDefault"; } Workaround: private void radPropertyGrid1_EditorInitialized(object sender, PropertyGridItemEditorInitializedEventArgs e) { PropertyGridTextBoxEditor editor = e.Editor as PropertyGridTextBoxEditor; if (editor != null) { BaseTextBoxEditorElement el = editor.EditorElement as BaseTextBoxEditorElement; if (el != null) { el.BackColor = Color.Black; } } }