diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/lib/space_schema.ts b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/lib/space_schema.ts
index 0ffaf9ce51cf85..c2dcd3b2b9ac06 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/lib/space_schema.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/lib/space_schema.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ export const spaceSchema = Joi.object({
   description: Joi.string().allow(''),
   initials: Joi.string().max(MAX_SPACE_INITIALS),
   color: Joi.string().regex(/^#[a-z0-9]{6}$/, `6 digit hex color, starting with a #`),
-  disabledFeatures: Joi.array().items(Joi.string()),
+  disabledFeatures: Joi.array()
+    .items(Joi.string())
+    .default([]),
   _reserved: Joi.boolean(),
 }).default();
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/post.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/post.test.ts
index cf69882f9857d6..c53aaf29636a4b 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/post.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/post.test.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ describe('Spaces Public API', () => {
       id: 'my-space-id',
       name: 'my new space',
       description: 'with a description',
+      disabledFeatures: ['foo'],
     };
 
     const { mockSavedObjectsRepository, response } = await request('POST', '/api/spaces/space', {
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ describe('Spaces Public API', () => {
     expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.create).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       'space',
-      { name: 'my new space', description: 'with a description' },
+      { name: 'my new space', description: 'with a description', disabledFeatures: ['foo'] },
       { id: 'my-space-id' }
     );
   });
@@ -102,4 +103,26 @@ describe('Spaces Public API', () => {
       statusCode: 409,
     });
   });
+
+  test('POST /space should not require disabledFeatures to be specified', async () => {
+    const payload = {
+      id: 'my-space-id',
+      name: 'my new space',
+      description: 'with a description',
+    };
+
+    const { mockSavedObjectsRepository, response } = await request('POST', '/api/spaces/space', {
+      payload,
+    });
+
+    const { statusCode } = response;
+
+    expect(statusCode).toEqual(200);
+    expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.create).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'space',
+      { name: 'my new space', description: 'with a description', disabledFeatures: [] },
+      { id: 'my-space-id' }
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/put.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/put.test.ts
index 35c5779a236ae1..d2ac1f89e1df99 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/put.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/server/routes/api/public/put.test.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ describe('Spaces Public API', () => {
       id: 'a-space',
       name: 'my updated space',
       description: 'with a description',
+      disabledFeatures: [],
     };
 
     const { mockSavedObjectsRepository, response } = await request(
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ describe('Spaces Public API', () => {
     expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.update).toHaveBeenCalledWith('space', 'a-space', {
       name: 'my updated space',
       description: 'with a description',
+      disabledFeatures: [],
     });
   });
 
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ describe('Spaces Public API', () => {
       id: 'a-space',
       name: 'my updated space',
       description: '',
+      disabledFeatures: ['foo'],
     };
 
     const { mockSavedObjectsRepository, response } = await request(
@@ -86,6 +89,33 @@ describe('Spaces Public API', () => {
     expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.update).toHaveBeenCalledWith('space', 'a-space', {
       name: 'my updated space',
       description: '',
+      disabledFeatures: ['foo'],
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('PUT /space should not require disabledFeatures', async () => {
+    const payload = {
+      id: 'a-space',
+      name: 'my updated space',
+      description: '',
+    };
+
+    const { mockSavedObjectsRepository, response } = await request(
+      'PUT',
+      '/api/spaces/space/a-space',
+      {
+        payload,
+      }
+    );
+
+    const { statusCode } = response;
+
+    expect(statusCode).toEqual(200);
+    expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.update).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(mockSavedObjectsRepository.update).toHaveBeenCalledWith('space', 'a-space', {
+      name: 'my updated space',
+      description: '',
+      disabledFeatures: [],
     });
   });