diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/framework.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/framework.scss
index 62d471bc30c2f0ec875164c3c569d9e4cb39e5ac..555ea276c6c011509e5bd3d31256f89d3b1ffc05 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/framework.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/framework.scss
@@ -65,3 +65,4 @@
 @import 'framework/terms';
 @import 'framework/read_more';
 @import 'framework/flex_grid';
+@import 'framework/system_messages';
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/framework/system_messages.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/framework/system_messages.scss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3d66136938f6756f05fdf27c7875ebe65567030b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/framework/system_messages.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+.header-message,
+.footer-message {
+  padding: 0 15px;
+  border: 1px solid transparent;
+  border-radius: 0;
+  position: fixed;
+  left: 0;
+  width: 100%;
+  text-align: center;
+  margin: 0;
+  z-index: 1000;
+
+  p {
+    @include str-truncated(100%);
+    margin-top: 0;
+    margin-bottom: 0;
+  }
+}
+
+.header-message {
+  top: 0;
+  height: $system-header-height;
+  line-height: $system-header-height;
+}
+
+.footer-message {
+  bottom: 0;
+  height: $system-footer-height;
+  line-height: $system-footer-height;
+}
+
+.with-performance-bar {
+  .header-message {
+    top: $performance-bar-height;
+  }
+}
+
+// System Header
+.with-system-header {
+  // main navigation
+  // login page
+  .navbar-gitlab,
+  .fixed-top {
+    top: $system-header-height;
+  }
+
+  // left sidebar eg: project page
+  // right sidebar eg: MR page
+  .nav-sidebar,
+  .right-sidebar {
+    top: $system-header-height + $header-height;
+  }
+
+  .content-wrapper {
+    margin-top: $system-header-height + $header-height;
+  }
+
+  // Performance Bar
+  // System Header
+  &.with-performance-bar {
+    // main navigation
+    header.navbar-gitlab {
+      top: $performance-bar-height + $system-header-height;
+    }
+
+    .layout-page {
+      margin-top: $header-height + $performance-bar-height + $system-header-height;
+    }
+
+    // left sidebar eg: project page
+    // right sidebar eg: MR page
+    .nav-sidebar,
+    .right-sidebar {
+      top: $header-height + $performance-bar-height + $system-header-height;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// System Footer
+.with-system-footer {
+  // left sidebar eg: project page
+  // right sidebar eg: mr page
+  .nav-sidebar,
+  .right-sidebar,
+    // navless pages' footer eg: login page
+    // navless pages' footer border eg: login page
+  &.devise-layout-html body .footer-container,
+  &.devise-layout-html body hr.footer-fixed {
+    bottom: $system-footer-height;
+  }
+}
+
+.fullscreen-layout {
+  .header-message,
+  .footer-message {
+    position: static;
+    top: auto;
+    bottom: auto;
+  }
+
+  .content-wrapper {
+    .with-system-header & {
+      margin-top: 0;
+    }
+
+    .with-system-footer & {
+      margin-top: 0;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/framework/variables.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/framework/variables.scss
index dc1a73ed923f9f035e0f42369e40bb2f15a9e646..27c54cb0b757540c56a64e699124ebd13dad98b7 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/framework/variables.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/framework/variables.scss
@@ -276,6 +276,8 @@ $general-hover-transition-duration: 100ms;
 $general-hover-transition-curve: linear;
 $highlight-changes-color: rgb(235, 255, 232);
 $performance-bar-height: 35px;
+$system-header-height: 35px;
+$system-footer-height: $system-header-height;
 $flash-height: 52px;
 $context-header-height: 60px;
 $breadcrumb-min-height: 48px;
diff --git a/app/controllers/admin/appearances_controller.rb b/app/controllers/admin/appearances_controller.rb
index e3226c86b0b4413fd8aa77a077933fa16fffedb1..2b9cae21da20ebb2c20a9084a96e61f8202a8f7a 100644
--- a/app/controllers/admin/appearances_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/admin/appearances_controller.rb
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ class Admin::AppearancesController < Admin::ApplicationController
       favicon_cache
       new_project_guidelines
       updated_by
+      header_message
+      footer_message
+      message_background_color
+      message_font_color
     ]
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/helpers/appearances_helper.rb b/app/helpers/appearances_helper.rb
index 7fbbbb041549a3a46058adcc0b3f07bedbe1adb4..023e44258b75fd298b684bcbf5b8388f43f4f8f7 100644
--- a/app/helpers/appearances_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/appearances_helper.rb
@@ -40,4 +40,36 @@ module AppearancesHelper
       render 'shared/logo_type.svg'
     end
   end
+
+  def header_message
+    return unless current_appearance&.show_header?
+
+    class_names = []
+    class_names << 'with-performance-bar' if performance_bar_enabled?
+
+    render_message(:header_message, class_names)
+  end
+
+  def footer_message
+    return unless current_appearance&.show_footer?
+
+    render_message(:footer_message)
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def render_message(field_sym, class_names = [])
+    class_names << field_sym.to_s.dasherize
+
+    content_tag :div, class: class_names, style: message_style do
+      markdown_field(current_appearance, field_sym)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def message_style
+    style = []
+    style << "background-color: #{current_appearance.message_background_color};"
+    style << "color: #{current_appearance.message_font_color}"
+    style.join
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 9efa84b02f09518748e3702611cfc30eb75e8515..ffa5719fefbb68d2f42a0e84d03118599d7027d0 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -214,12 +214,19 @@ module ApplicationHelper
     class_names = []
     class_names << 'issue-boards-page' if current_controller?(:boards)
     class_names << 'with-performance-bar' if performance_bar_enabled?
-
+    class_names << system_message_class
     class_names
   end
 
-  # EE feature: System header and footer, unavailable in CE
   def system_message_class
+    class_names = []
+
+    return class_names unless appearance
+
+    class_names << 'with-system-header' if appearance.show_header?
+    class_names << 'with-system-footer' if appearance.show_footer?
+
+    class_names
   end
 
   # Returns active css class when condition returns true
@@ -292,4 +299,10 @@ module ApplicationHelper
       snippets: snippets_project_autocomplete_sources_path(object)
     }
   end
+
+  private
+
+  def appearance
+    ::Appearance.current
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/appearance.rb b/app/models/appearance.rb
index ff1ecfda684422f393f52da1ed181db66e6aa9cc..b9ad676ca47109aabdca08e5467729dd128beae3 100644
--- a/app/models/appearance.rb
+++ b/app/models/appearance.rb
@@ -8,12 +8,19 @@ class Appearance < ActiveRecord::Base
 
   cache_markdown_field :description
   cache_markdown_field :new_project_guidelines
+  cache_markdown_field :header_message, pipeline: :broadcast_message
+  cache_markdown_field :footer_message, pipeline: :broadcast_message
 
   validates :logo,        file_size: { maximum: 1.megabyte }
   validates :header_logo, file_size: { maximum: 1.megabyte }
+  validates :message_background_color, allow_blank: true, color: true
+  validates :message_font_color, allow_blank: true, color: true
 
   validate :single_appearance_row, on: :create
 
+  default_value_for :message_background_color, '#E75E40'
+  default_value_for :message_font_color, '#FFFFFF'
+
   mount_uploader :logo,         AttachmentUploader
   mount_uploader :header_logo,  AttachmentUploader
   mount_uploader :favicon,      FaviconUploader
@@ -41,6 +48,14 @@ class Appearance < ActiveRecord::Base
     logo_system_path(favicon, 'favicon')
   end
 
+  def show_header?
+    header_message.present?
+  end
+
+  def show_footer?
+    footer_message.present?
+  end
+
   private
 
   def logo_system_path(logo, mount_type)
diff --git a/app/views/admin/appearances/_form.html.haml b/app/views/admin/appearances/_form.html.haml
index 77e84abd76ed213551edb8fc3e6323df7620d8d2..a5f34d0dab2c1f679f3b70513069f05570e706ec 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/appearances/_form.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/appearances/_form.html.haml
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
             %br
             Images with incorrect dimensions are not resized automatically, and may result in unexpected behavior.
 
+  = render partial: 'admin/appearances/system_header_footer_form', locals: { form: f }
 
   %hr
   .row
diff --git a/app/views/admin/appearances/_system_header_footer_form.html.haml b/app/views/admin/appearances/_system_header_footer_form.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ca9d6adebeba383657fdbb30c302eab232bb948e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/admin/appearances/_system_header_footer_form.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+- form = local_assigns.fetch(:form)
+
+%hr
+.row
+  .col-lg-4.profile-settings-sidebar
+    %h4.prepend-top-0
+      = _('System header and footer')
+
+  .col-lg-8
+    .form-group
+      = form.label :header_message, _('Header message'), class: 'col-form-label label-bold'
+      = form.text_area :header_message, placeholder: _('State your message to activate'), class: "form-control js-autosize"
+    .form-group
+      = form.label :footer_message, _('Footer message'), class: 'col-form-label label-bold'
+      = form.text_area :footer_message, placeholder: _('State your message to activate'), class: "form-control js-autosize"
+    .form-group.js-toggle-colors-container
+      %button.btn.btn-link.js-toggle-colors-link{ type: 'button' }
+        = _('Customize colors')
+    .form-group.js-toggle-colors-container.hide
+      = form.label :message_background_color, _('Background Color'), class: 'col-form-label label-bold'
+      = form.color_field :message_background_color, class: "form-control"
+    .form-group.js-toggle-colors-container.hide
+      = form.label :message_font_color, _('Font Color'), class: 'col-form-label label-bold'
+      = form.color_field :message_font_color, class: "form-control"
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/application.html.haml b/app/views/layouts/application.html.haml
index 4373240001ee194d3827c5c1cda8c451446fd49c..043cca6ad38da3f3da3cabe693d9933c6134e9ff 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/application.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/layouts/application.html.haml
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
     = render "layouts/init_auto_complete" if @gfm_form
     = render "layouts/init_client_detection_flags"
     = render 'peek/bar'
-    = render  partial: "layouts/header/default", locals: { project: @project, group: @group }
+    = header_message
+    = render partial: "layouts/header/default", locals: { project: @project, group: @group }
     = render 'layouts/page', sidebar: sidebar, nav: nav
+    = footer_message
 
     = yield :scripts_body
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/devise.html.haml b/app/views/layouts/devise.html.haml
index 6003d973c882456abe5121cb21016a1c09f9272d..2f3c13aaf6ec771c388a5f86493f75b6045e748a 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/devise.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/layouts/devise.html.haml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 %html.devise-layout-html{ class: system_message_class }
   = render "layouts/head"
   %body.ui-indigo.login-page.application.navless.qa-login-page{ data: { page: body_data_page } }
+    = header_message
     .page-wrap
       = render "layouts/header/empty"
       .login-page-broadcast
@@ -34,3 +35,4 @@
           = link_to _("Explore"), explore_root_path
           = link_to _("Help"), help_path
           = link_to _("About GitLab"), "https://about.gitlab.com/"
+      = footer_message
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/devise_empty.html.haml b/app/views/layouts/devise_empty.html.haml
index 663e5b24368f248d56684cc9d944ae105cdbb83b..6c9c8aa44310e4a1e76590b74b43b3d31f4874de 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/devise_empty.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/layouts/devise_empty.html.haml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 %html{ lang: "en", class: system_message_class }
   = render "layouts/head"
   %body.ui-indigo.login-page.application.navless
+    = header_message
     = render "layouts/header/empty"
     = render "layouts/broadcast"
     .container.navless-container
@@ -15,3 +16,4 @@
         = link_to _("Explore"), explore_root_path
         = link_to _("Help"), help_path
         = link_to _("About GitLab"), "https://about.gitlab.com/"
+    = footer_message
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/55057-system-message-to-core.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/55057-system-message-to-core.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3381879eb4acc0b02bd2aa36b6ed5ba5172761b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/55057-system-message-to-core.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Port System Header and Footer feature to Core
+merge_request: 25241
+author:
+type: added
diff --git a/db/migrate/20180314145917_add_header_and_footer_banners_to_appearances_table.rb b/db/migrate/20180314145917_add_header_and_footer_banners_to_appearances_table.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8aba3448035b637b6de0884e838698d09d1798ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20180314145917_add_header_and_footer_banners_to_appearances_table.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class AddHeaderAndFooterBannersToAppearancesTable < ActiveRecord::Migration[4.2]
+  include Gitlab::Database::MigrationHelpers
+
+  DOWNTIME = false
+
+  def change
+    add_column :appearances, :header_message, :text
+    add_column :appearances, :header_message_html, :text
+
+    add_column :appearances, :footer_message, :text
+    add_column :appearances, :footer_message_html, :text
+
+    add_column :appearances, :message_background_color, :text
+    add_column :appearances, :message_font_color, :text
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 1651a24f4124ec7216873f92c1a0986fea1f84b4..1bdc9682cc93b3c13a2411b0a77564c48e5762dc 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20190204115450) do
     t.integer "cached_markdown_version"
     t.text "new_project_guidelines"
     t.text "new_project_guidelines_html"
+    t.text "header_message"
+    t.text "header_message_html"
+    t.text "footer_message"
+    t.text "footer_message_html"
+    t.text "message_background_color"
+    t.text "message_font_color"
     t.string "favicon"
   end
 
diff --git a/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages.md b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..cf7d8b3f3e8e3901dc27869e745eb5094214142a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Adding a system message to every page
+
+> [Introduced][ee-1283] in [GitLab Premium][eep] 10.7.
+
+Navigate to the **Admin** area and go to the **Appearance** page.
+
+Under **System header and footer** insert your header message and/or footer message.
+Both background and font color of the header and footer are customizable.
+
+![appearance](system_header_and_footer_messages/appearance.png)
+
+After saving, all GitLab pages will contain the custom system header and/or footer messages:
+
+![custom_header_footer](system_header_and_footer_messages/custom_header_footer.png)
+
+The GitLab sign in page will also show the header and the footer messages:
+
+![sign_up_custom_header_and_footer](system_header_and_footer_messages/sign_up_custom_header_and_footer.png)
diff --git a/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/appearance.png b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/appearance.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..14667f751c42724184f67416c8028d270e234c4d
Binary files /dev/null and b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/appearance.png differ
diff --git a/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/custom_header_footer.png b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/custom_header_footer.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..691ca8a3484f464c6c772fbc04bd62d7bb22cc14
Binary files /dev/null and b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/custom_header_footer.png differ
diff --git a/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/sign_up_custom_header_and_footer.png b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/sign_up_custom_header_and_footer.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a9c59bc9f62f4d25c1a0dd4cfa349a4f120d9607
Binary files /dev/null and b/doc/customization/system_header_and_footer_messages/sign_up_custom_header_and_footer.png differ
diff --git a/locale/gitlab.pot b/locale/gitlab.pot
index 4c064b7741ad943ce52d891b4d7e02ba24b622a7..707a5ad117888779033caf84d5952f25a1484a6a 100644
--- a/locale/gitlab.pot
+++ b/locale/gitlab.pot
@@ -951,6 +951,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Average per day: %{average}"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Background Color"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Background Jobs"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -2453,6 +2456,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Custom notification levels are the same as participating levels. With custom notification levels you will also receive notifications for select events. To find out more, check out %{notification_link}."
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Customize colors"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Customize how FogBugz email addresses and usernames are imported into GitLab. In the next step, you'll be able to select the projects you want to import."
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -3435,6 +3441,12 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Follow the steps below to export your Google Code project data."
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Font Color"
+msgstr ""
+
+msgid "Footer message"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "For internal projects, any logged in user can view pipelines and access job details (output logs and artifacts)"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -3762,6 +3774,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "GroupsTree|Search by name"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Header message"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Health Check"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -7051,6 +7066,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Starts at (UTC)"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "State your message to activate"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Status"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -7132,6 +7150,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "System default (%{default})"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "System header and footer"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "System metrics (Custom)"
 msgstr ""
 
diff --git a/spec/controllers/admin/appearances_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/admin/appearances_controller_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4ddd095326733daf8a44aa0325b4cf7ae19420d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/controllers/admin/appearances_controller_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe Admin::AppearancesController do
+  let(:admin) { create(:admin) }
+  let(:header_message) { "Header message" }
+  let(:footer_message) { "Footer" }
+
+  describe 'POST #create' do
+    let(:create_params) do
+      {
+        title: "Foo",
+        description: "Bar",
+        header_message: header_message,
+        footer_message: footer_message
+      }
+    end
+
+    before do
+      sign_in(admin)
+    end
+
+    it 'creates appearance with footer and header message' do
+      post :create, params: { appearance: create_params }
+
+      expect(Appearance.current).to have_attributes(
+        header_message: header_message,
+        footer_message: footer_message
+      )
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'PUT #update' do
+    let(:update_params) do
+      {
+        header_message: header_message,
+        footer_message: footer_message
+      }
+    end
+
+    before do
+      create(:appearance)
+
+      sign_in(admin)
+    end
+
+    it 'updates appearance with footer and header message' do
+      put :update, params: { appearance: update_params }
+
+      expect(Appearance.current).to have_attributes(
+        header_message: header_message,
+        footer_message: footer_message
+      )
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/features/admin/admin_appearance_spec.rb b/spec/features/admin/admin_appearance_spec.rb
index 57215c0d1e95c66a20e753ab4b8f355c6cf17eb1..83cd686818ce0c5e4fcf94bff9fc8c2e1c9749d2 100644
--- a/spec/features/admin/admin_appearance_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/admin/admin_appearance_spec.rb
@@ -39,6 +39,38 @@ describe 'Admin Appearance' do
     expect_custom_new_project_appearance(appearance)
   end
 
+  context 'Custom system header and footer' do
+    before do
+      sign_in(create(:admin))
+    end
+
+    context 'when system header and footer messages are empty' do
+      it 'shows custom system header and footer fields' do
+        visit admin_appearances_path
+
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_header_message', with: '')
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_footer_message', with: '')
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_message_background_color')
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_message_font_color')
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when system header and footer messages are not empty' do
+      before do
+        appearance.update(header_message: 'Foo', footer_message: 'Bar')
+      end
+
+      it 'shows custom system header and footer fields' do
+        visit admin_appearances_path
+
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_header_message', with: appearance.header_message)
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_footer_message', with: appearance.footer_message)
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_message_background_color')
+        expect(page).to have_field('appearance_message_font_color')
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   it 'Custom sign-in page' do
     visit new_user_session_path
 
diff --git a/spec/features/display_system_header_and_footer_bar_spec.rb b/spec/features/display_system_header_and_footer_bar_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..af9d9a5834f0f5c5c1c64d1e33af3089e5834eb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/features/display_system_header_and_footer_bar_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'rails_helper'
+
+describe 'Display system header and footer bar' do
+  let(:header_message) { "Foo" }
+  let(:footer_message) { "Bar" }
+
+  shared_examples 'system header is configured' do
+    it 'shows system header' do
+      expect(page).to have_css('.header-message')
+    end
+
+    it 'shows the correct content' do
+      page.within('.header-message') do
+        expect(page).to have_content(header_message)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  shared_examples 'system footer is configured' do
+    it 'shows system footer' do
+      expect(page).to have_css('.footer-message')
+    end
+
+    it 'shows the correct content' do
+      page.within('.footer-message') do
+        expect(page).to have_content(footer_message)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  shared_examples 'system header is not configured' do
+    it 'does not show system header' do
+      expect(page).not_to have_css('.header-message')
+    end
+  end
+
+  shared_examples 'system footer is not configured' do
+    it 'does not show system footer' do
+      expect(page).not_to have_css('.footer-message')
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'when authenticated' do
+    context 'when system header and footer are not configured' do
+      before do
+        sign_in(create(:user))
+
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is not configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is not configured'
+    end
+
+    context 'when only system header is defined' do
+      before do
+        create(:appearance, header_message: header_message)
+
+        sign_in(create(:user))
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is not configured'
+    end
+
+    context 'when only system footer is defined' do
+      before do
+        create(:appearance, footer_message: footer_message)
+
+        sign_in(create(:user))
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is not configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is configured'
+    end
+
+    context 'when system header and footer are defined' do
+      before do
+        create(:appearance, header_message: header_message, footer_message: footer_message)
+
+        sign_in(create(:user))
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is configured'
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'when not authenticated' do
+    context 'when system header and footer are not configured' do
+      before do
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is not configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is not configured'
+    end
+
+    context 'when only system header is defined' do
+      before do
+        create(:appearance, header_message: header_message)
+
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is not configured'
+    end
+
+    context 'when only system footer is defined' do
+      before do
+        create(:appearance, footer_message: footer_message)
+
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is not configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is configured'
+    end
+
+    context 'when system header and footer are defined' do
+      before do
+        create(:appearance, header_message: header_message, footer_message: footer_message)
+
+        visit root_path
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'system header is configured'
+      it_behaves_like 'system footer is configured'
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/helpers/appearances_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/appearances_helper_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8d717b968dd297a554181fe9d653a128166c9bc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/helpers/appearances_helper_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe AppearancesHelper do
+  before do
+    user = create(:user)
+    allow(helper).to receive(:current_user).and_return(user)
+  end
+
+  describe '#header_message' do
+    it 'returns nil when header message field is not set' do
+      create(:appearance)
+
+      expect(helper.header_message).to be_nil
+    end
+
+    context 'when header message is set' do
+      it 'includes current message' do
+        message = "Foo bar"
+        create(:appearance, header_message: message)
+
+        expect(helper.header_message).to include(message)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#footer_message' do
+    it 'returns nil when footer message field is not set' do
+      create(:appearance)
+
+      expect(helper.footer_message).to be_nil
+    end
+
+    context 'when footer message is set' do
+      it 'includes current message' do
+        message = "Foo bar"
+        create(:appearance, footer_message: message)
+
+        expect(helper.footer_message).to include(message)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#brand_image' do
+    let!(:appearance) { create(:appearance, :with_logo) }
+
+    context 'when there is a logo' do
+      it 'returns a path' do
+        expect(helper.brand_image).to match(%r(img data-src="/uploads/-/system/appearance/.*png))
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when there is a logo but no associated upload' do
+      before do
+        # Legacy attachments were not tracked in the uploads table
+        appearance.logo.upload.destroy
+        appearance.reload
+      end
+
+      it 'falls back to using the original path' do
+        expect(helper.brand_image).to match(%r(img data-src="/uploads/-/system/appearance/.*png))
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#brand_title' do
+    it 'returns the default CE title when no appearance is present' do
+      allow(helper)
+        .to receive(:current_appearance)
+              .and_return(nil)
+
+      expect(helper.brand_title).to eq('GitLab Community Edition')
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/appearance_spec.rb b/spec/models/appearance_spec.rb
index cc76a2019eca27cee2692e975af779280c8a04da..28d482adebf08bbba38a5ce3e39c75d5ff6212b2 100644
--- a/spec/models/appearance_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/appearance_spec.rb
@@ -63,4 +63,19 @@ describe Appearance do
   %i(logo header_logo favicon).each do |logo_type|
     it_behaves_like 'logo paths', logo_type
   end
+
+  describe 'validations' do
+    let(:triplet) { '#000' }
+    let(:hex)     { '#AABBCC' }
+
+    it { is_expected.to allow_value(nil).for(:message_background_color) }
+    it { is_expected.to allow_value(triplet).for(:message_background_color) }
+    it { is_expected.to allow_value(hex).for(:message_background_color) }
+    it { is_expected.not_to allow_value('000').for(:message_background_color) }
+
+    it { is_expected.to allow_value(nil).for(:message_font_color) }
+    it { is_expected.to allow_value(triplet).for(:message_font_color) }
+    it { is_expected.to allow_value(hex).for(:message_font_color) }
+    it { is_expected.not_to allow_value('000').for(:message_font_color) }
+  end
 end