title: Change default background color for matplotlib plots
body: <p>I am using <code>ipython</code> with <code>matplotlib</code>. Is it possible to configure the default background color for <code>matplotlib</code> plots? The curent (white) colour must come from somewhere. Is it possible to override it to, lets say, <code>#CCCCCC</code>?</p>
  
  <p>Note: By default, I don't mean default for a given ipython notebook. I mean default for my <code>matplotlib</code> installation.</p>
  
  <p>The solution suggested by @Ffisegydd works. however, after setting <code>axes.facecolor : F4EAEA</code>, I still get white edges around the plot:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/XkcB8.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>How can I get rid of those?</p>
  
  <h1>UPDATE:</h1>
  
  <p>now I have following set in my <code>/etc/matplotlibrc</code> and I have restarted ipython notebook after each change;</p>
  
  <pre><code>axes.facecolor      : F4EAEA   
  figure.facecolor : F4EAEA  
  figure.edgecolor : F4EAEA   
  savefig.facecolor : F4EAEA    
  savefig.edgecolor : F4EAEA    
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The plot looks the same as on the original screenshot. i.e. there is the white stripe around the plot.</p>
  
  <h1>UPDATE2:</h1>
  
  <p>I am using ipython, and I have following custom css in my <code>~/.config/ipython/profile_nbserver/static/custom/custom.css</code></p>
  
  <pre><code>div.output_area {
    border-radius: 4px;
    background: #F4EAEA !important;
    border: thin solid #4a4a4a;
  }
  </code></pre>