diff --git a/examples/demo_widget.py b/examples/demo_widget.py
index 6ae80ee..c3213f0 100644
--- a/examples/demo_widget.py
+++ b/examples/demo_widget.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ QSlider::sub-page:horizontal {
 }
 
 QRangeSlider {
-    qproperty-barColor: "qlineargradient(x1:0, y1:0, x2:1, y2:1, stop:0 #227, stop:1 #77a)";
+    qproperty-barColor: qlineargradient(x1:0, y1:0, x2:1, y2:1, stop:0 #227, stop:1 #77a);
 }
 """
 
diff --git a/qtrangeslider/_qrangeslider.py b/qtrangeslider/_qrangeslider.py
index efcc303..dd2dc9a 100644
--- a/qtrangeslider/_qrangeslider.py
+++ b/qtrangeslider/_qrangeslider.py
@@ -213,12 +213,12 @@ class QRangeSlider(QSlider):
         return opt
 
     def _getBarColor(self):
-        return self._style.brush_active or ""
+        return self._style.brush(self._getStyleOption())
 
     def _setBarColor(self, color):
         self._style.brush_active = color
 
-    barColor = Property(str, _getBarColor, _setBarColor)
+    barColor = Property(QtGui.QBrush, _getBarColor, _setBarColor)
 
     def _drawBar(self, painter: QStylePainter, opt: QStyleOptionSlider):
 
diff --git a/qtrangeslider/_style.py b/qtrangeslider/_style.py
index 58d63f3..17cd957 100644
--- a/qtrangeslider/_style.py
+++ b/qtrangeslider/_style.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Union
 from .qtcompat import PYQT_VERSION
 from .qtcompat.QtCore import Qt
 from .qtcompat.QtGui import (
+    QBrush,
     QColor,
     QGradient,
     QLinearGradient,
@@ -34,26 +35,28 @@ class RangeSliderStyle:
     h_offset: float = None
     has_stylesheet: bool = False
 
-    def brush(self, opt: QStyleOptionSlider) -> Union[QGradient, QColor]:
+    def brush(self, opt: QStyleOptionSlider) -> QBrush:
         cg = opt.palette.currentColorGroup()
         attr = {
             QPalette.Active: "brush_active",  # 0
             QPalette.Disabled: "brush_disabled",  # 1
             QPalette.Inactive: "brush_inactive",  # 2
         }[cg]
-        val = getattr(self, attr) or getattr(SYSTEM_STYLE, attr)
-        if isinstance(val, str):
-            _val = QColor(val)
-            if not _val.isValid():
-                _val = parse_color(val)
-
-        if not _val:
+        _val = getattr(self, attr) or getattr(SYSTEM_STYLE, attr)
+        if _val is None:
             return Qt.NoBrush
 
-        if opt.tickPosition != QSlider.NoTicks:
-            _val.setAlphaF(self.tick_bar_alpha or SYSTEM_STYLE.tick_bar_alpha)
+        if isinstance(_val, str):
+            val = QColor(_val)
+            if not val.isValid():
+                val = parse_color(_val, default_attr=attr)
+        else:
+            val = _val
 
-        return _val
+        if opt.tickPosition != QSlider.NoTicks:
+            val.setAlphaF(self.tick_bar_alpha or SYSTEM_STYLE.tick_bar_alpha)
+
+        return QBrush(val)
 
     def pen(self, opt: QStyleOptionSlider) -> Union[Qt.PenStyle, QColor]:
         cg = opt.palette.currentColorGroup()
@@ -211,7 +214,7 @@ rgba_pattern = re.compile(
 )
 
 
-def parse_color(color: str) -> Union[QColor, QGradient]:
+def parse_color(color: str, default_attr) -> Union[QColor, QGradient]:
     qc = QColor(color)
     if qc.isValid():
         return qc
@@ -238,7 +241,7 @@ def parse_color(color: str) -> Union[QColor, QGradient]:
         return grad
 
     # fallback to dark gray
-    return QColor("#333")
+    return QColor(getattr(SYSTEM_STYLE, default_attr))
 
 
 def update_styles_from_stylesheet(obj: "QRangeSlider"):