diff --git a/contrib/chart/backstage/README.md b/contrib/chart/backstage/README.md
index 51f0bb0d7cf6d..22c1fae5df9a5 100644
--- a/contrib/chart/backstage/README.md
+++ b/contrib/chart/backstage/README.md
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ backstage-ingress   *       34.77.171.192   80      17m
 
 ## Customization
 
+### Custom PostgreSQL instance
+
 Configuring a connection to an existing PostgreSQL instance is possible through the chart's values.
 
 First create a yaml file with the configuration you want to override, for example `backstage-prod.yaml`:
@@ -82,6 +84,22 @@ cd contrib/chart/backstage
 helm install -f backstage-prod.yaml my-backstage .
 ```
 
+### Different namespace
+
+To install the charts a specific namespace use `--namespace <ns>`:
+
+```
+helm install -f my_values.yaml --namespace demos backstage .
+```
+
+### Disable loading of demo data
+
+To deploy backstage with the pre-loaded demo data disable `backend.demoData`:
+
+```
+helm install -f my_values.yaml --set backend.demoData=false backstage .
+```
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 #### Unable to verify signature
diff --git a/contrib/chart/backstage/files/app-config.local.yaml.tpl b/contrib/chart/backstage/files/app-config.local.yaml.tpl
index 857e9ecafe6bc..d803213a402d1 100644
--- a/contrib/chart/backstage/files/app-config.local.yaml.tpl
+++ b/contrib/chart/backstage/files/app-config.local.yaml.tpl
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ backend:
         ca: {{ include "backstage.backend.postgresCaFilename" . | quote }}
 
 catalog:
+{{- if .Values.backend.demoData }}
   locations:
     # Backstage example components
     - type: github
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@ catalog:
     # Backstage example templates
     - type: github
       target: https://github.com/spotify/backstage/blob/master/plugins/scaffolder-backend/sample-templates/all-templates.yaml
+{{- else }}
+  locations: []
+{{- end }}
 
 sentry:
   organization: {{ .Values.appConfig.sentry.organization | quote }}
diff --git a/contrib/chart/backstage/values.yaml b/contrib/chart/backstage/values.yaml
index 37ac9b2243bb8..ea9cd077f8c40 100644
--- a/contrib/chart/backstage/values.yaml
+++ b/contrib/chart/backstage/values.yaml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ frontend:
 backend:
   enabled: true
   nodeEnv: development
+  demoData: true
   replicaCount: 1
   image:
     repository: martinaif/backstage-k8s-demo-backend