diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.test.tsx
index f169395688de1..ac60902920fa9 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.test.tsx
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ describe('ManageSpacePage', () => {
     nameInput.simulate('change', { target: { value: 'New Space Name' } });
     descriptionInput.simulate('change', { target: { value: 'some description' } });
 
+    updateSpace(wrapper, false, 'oblt');
+
     const createButton = wrapper.find('button[data-test-subj="save-space-button"]');
     createButton.simulate('click');
     await Promise.resolve();
@@ -110,9 +112,78 @@ describe('ManageSpacePage', () => {
       color: '#AA6556',
       imageUrl: '',
       disabledFeatures: [],
+      solution: 'oblt',
     });
   });
 
+  it('validates the form (name, initials, solution view...)', async () => {
+    const spacesManager = spacesManagerMock.create();
+    spacesManager.createSpace = jest.fn(spacesManager.createSpace);
+    spacesManager.getActiveSpace = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(space);
+
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <ManageSpacePage
+        spacesManager={spacesManager as unknown as SpacesManager}
+        getFeatures={featuresStart.getFeatures}
+        notifications={notificationServiceMock.createStartContract()}
+        history={history}
+        capabilities={{
+          navLinks: {},
+          management: {},
+          catalogue: {},
+          spaces: { manage: true },
+        }}
+        eventTracker={eventTracker}
+        allowFeatureVisibility
+        allowSolutionVisibility
+      />
+    );
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      wrapper.update();
+      expect(wrapper.find('input[name="name"]')).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+
+    const createButton = wrapper.find('button[data-test-subj="save-space-button"]');
+    createButton.simulate('click');
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    {
+      const errors = wrapper.find('.euiFormErrorText').map((node) => node.text());
+      expect(errors).toEqual([
+        'Enter a name.',
+        'Enter a URL identifier.',
+        'Enter initials.',
+        'Select one solution.',
+      ]);
+
+      expect(spacesManager.createSpace).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      const nameInput = wrapper.find('input[name="name"]');
+      nameInput.simulate('change', { target: { value: 'New Space Name' } });
+    }
+
+    createButton.simulate('click');
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    {
+      const errors = wrapper.find('.euiFormErrorText').map((node) => node.text());
+      expect(errors).toEqual(['Select one solution.']); // requires solution view to be set
+    }
+
+    updateSpace(wrapper, false, 'oblt');
+
+    createButton.simulate('click');
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    {
+      const errors = wrapper.find('.euiFormErrorText').map((node) => node.text());
+      expect(errors).toEqual([]); // no more errors
+    }
+
+    expect(spacesManager.createSpace).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('shows solution view select when visible', async () => {
     const spacesManager = spacesManagerMock.create();
     spacesManager.createSpace = jest.fn(spacesManager.createSpace);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.tsx
index cb81ae9304260..4f45b55fb1630 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/manage_space_page.tsx
@@ -206,6 +206,8 @@ export class ManageSpacePage extends Component<Props, State> {
             <SolutionView
               space={this.state.space}
               onChange={this.onSolutionViewChange}
+              validator={this.validator}
+              isEditing={this.editingExistingSpace()}
               sectionTitle={i18n.translate(
                 'xpack.spaces.management.manageSpacePage.navigationTitle',
                 { defaultMessage: 'Navigation' }
@@ -373,7 +375,11 @@ export class ManageSpacePage extends Component<Props, State> {
     const originalSpace: Space = this.state.originalSpace as Space;
     const space: Space = this.state.space as Space;
     const { haveDisabledFeaturesChanged, hasSolutionViewChanged } = this.state;
-    const result = this.validator.validateForSave(space);
+    const result = this.validator.validateForSave(
+      space,
+      this.editingExistingSpace(),
+      this.props.allowSolutionVisibility
+    );
     if (result.isInvalid) {
       this.setState({
         formError: result,
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/solution_view/solution_view.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/solution_view/solution_view.tsx
index 608454a75600b..9d7ca7140956c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/solution_view/solution_view.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/edit_space/solution_view/solution_view.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n-react';
 
 import type { Space } from '../../../../common';
+import type { SpaceValidator } from '../../lib';
 import { SectionPanel } from '../section_panel';
 
 type SolutionView = Space['solution'];
@@ -98,10 +99,18 @@ const getOptions = ({ size }: EuiThemeComputed): Array<EuiSuperSelectOption<Solu
 interface Props {
   space: Partial<Space>;
   onChange: (space: Partial<Space>) => void;
+  isEditing: boolean;
+  validator: SpaceValidator;
   sectionTitle?: string;
 }
 
-export const SolutionView: FunctionComponent<Props> = ({ space, onChange, sectionTitle }) => {
+export const SolutionView: FunctionComponent<Props> = ({
+  space,
+  onChange,
+  validator,
+  isEditing,
+  sectionTitle,
+}) => {
   const { euiTheme } = useEuiTheme();
 
   return (
@@ -132,6 +141,7 @@ export const SolutionView: FunctionComponent<Props> = ({ space, onChange, sectio
               defaultMessage: 'Solution view',
             })}
             fullWidth
+            {...validator.validateSolutionView(space, isEditing)}
           >
             <EuiSuperSelect
               options={getOptions(euiTheme)}
@@ -140,6 +150,13 @@ export const SolutionView: FunctionComponent<Props> = ({ space, onChange, sectio
               onChange={(solution) => {
                 onChange({ ...space, solution });
               }}
+              placeholder={i18n.translate(
+                'xpack.spaces.management.navigation.solutionViewDefaultValue',
+                {
+                  defaultMessage: 'Classic (Default)',
+                }
+              )}
+              isInvalid={validator.validateSolutionView(space, isEditing).isInvalid}
             />
           </EuiFormRow>
         </EuiFlexItem>
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/lib/validate_space.ts b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/lib/validate_space.ts
index a93d627f6e159..9a9ae0cbe98fd 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/lib/validate_space.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/spaces/public/management/lib/validate_space.ts
@@ -169,11 +169,31 @@ export class SpaceValidator {
     return valid();
   }
 
+  public validateSolutionView(
+    space: FormValues,
+    isEditing: boolean,
+    allowSolutionVisibility = true
+  ) {
+    if (!this.shouldValidate || isEditing || !allowSolutionVisibility) {
+      return valid();
+    }
+
+    if (!space.solution) {
+      return invalid(
+        i18n.translate('xpack.spaces.management.validateSpace.requiredSolutionViewErrorMessage', {
+          defaultMessage: 'Select one solution.',
+        })
+      );
+    }
+
+    return valid();
+  }
+
   public validateEnabledFeatures(space: FormValues) {
     return valid();
   }
 
-  public validateForSave(space: FormValues) {
+  public validateForSave(space: FormValues, isEditing: boolean, allowSolutionVisibility: boolean) {
     const { isInvalid: isNameInvalid } = this.validateSpaceName(space);
     const { isInvalid: isDescriptionInvalid } = this.validateSpaceDescription(space);
     const { isInvalid: isIdentifierInvalid } = this.validateURLIdentifier(space);
@@ -181,6 +201,11 @@ export class SpaceValidator {
     const { isInvalid: isAvatarColorInvalid } = this.validateAvatarColor(space);
     const { isInvalid: isAvatarImageInvalid } = this.validateAvatarImage(space);
     const { isInvalid: areFeaturesInvalid } = this.validateEnabledFeatures(space);
+    const { isInvalid: isSolutionViewInvalid } = this.validateSolutionView(
+      space,
+      isEditing,
+      allowSolutionVisibility
+    );
 
     if (
       isNameInvalid ||
@@ -189,7 +214,8 @@ export class SpaceValidator {
       isAvatarInitialsInvalid ||
       isAvatarColorInvalid ||
       isAvatarImageInvalid ||
-      areFeaturesInvalid
+      areFeaturesInvalid ||
+      isSolutionViewInvalid
     ) {
       return invalid();
     }