diff --git a/client/assets/styles/colours.less b/client/assets/styles/colours.less
index a1ae5dcb..16e972af 100644
--- a/client/assets/styles/colours.less
+++ b/client/assets/styles/colours.less
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 @white: #f5f5f5; // whitesmoke
 @purple: #9355b5; // 6lack - that far cover
 @yellow: #ffa100;
+@silver: #c0c0c0;
 
 @black: black;
 @gray: #222;
diff --git a/client/assets/styles/instance.less b/client/assets/styles/instance.less
index 2ebd9f12..fa1e1485 100644
--- a/client/assets/styles/instance.less
+++ b/client/assets/styles/instance.less
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
     button {
         &.highlight {
             color: black;
-            background: @white;
+            background: @silver;
             // border: 1px solid @white; (this bangs around the vbox)
 
             // overwrite the classes on white svg elements
diff --git a/client/assets/styles/vbox.less b/client/assets/styles/vbox.less
index d0e8e0a3..434fdd7e 100644
--- a/client/assets/styles/vbox.less
+++ b/client/assets/styles/vbox.less
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@
 
         &.highlight {
             color: black;
-            background: @white;
+            background: @silver;
             // border: 1px solid @white; (this bangs around the vbox)
 
             // overwrite the classes on white svg elements