diff --git a/.changeset/sixty-tips-shout.md b/.changeset/sixty-tips-shout.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b25e8c62f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/sixty-tips-shout.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@livekit/components-styles": patch
+---
+
+Add css var for idle visualizer bar color
diff --git a/packages/styles/scss/components/participant/_audio-visualizer.scss b/packages/styles/scss/components/participant/_audio-visualizer.scss
index 53b721486..aaa6537d1 100644
--- a/packages/styles/scss/components/participant/_audio-visualizer.scss
+++ b/packages/styles/scss/components/participant/_audio-visualizer.scss
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ deprecated
     height: 100%;
     width: var(--va-bar-width, 12px);
     border-radius: var(--va-bar-border-radius, 32px);
-    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
+    background-color: var(--va-bar-bg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05));
     transition: background-color 0.25s ease-out;
     // transition: all 0.0s ease-out   // commented out as the transition duration is 0
   }