diff --git a/core/modules/block/src/Tests/BlockInvalidRegionTest.php b/core/modules/block/src/Tests/BlockInvalidRegionTest.php
index 438a0c1..99ef06d 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/src/Tests/BlockInvalidRegionTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/block/src/Tests/BlockInvalidRegionTest.php
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ protected function setUp() {
   function testBlockInInvalidRegion() {
     // Enable a test block and place it in an invalid region.
     $block = $this->drupalPlaceBlock('test_html');
-    $block->setRegion('invalid_region');
-    $block->save();
+    \Drupal::configFactory()->getEditable('block.block.' . $block->id())->set('region', 'invalid_region')->save();
+    $block = Block::load($block->id());
 
     $warning_message = t('The block %info was assigned to the invalid region %region and has been disabled.', array('%info' => $block->id(), '%region' => 'invalid_region'));
 
@@ -51,9 +51,8 @@ function testBlockInInvalidRegion() {
     $this->assertNoRaw($warning_message, 'Disabled block in the invalid region will not trigger the warning.');
 
     // Place disabled test block in the invalid region of the default theme.
+    \Drupal::configFactory()->getEditable('block.block.' . $block->id())->set('region', 'invalid_region')->save();
     $block = Block::load($block->id());
-    $block->setRegion('invalid_region');
-    $block->save();
 
     // Clear the cache to check if the warning message is not triggered.
     $this->drupalPostForm('admin/config/development/performance', array(), 'Clear all caches');
diff --git a/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/BlockStorageUnitTest.php b/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/BlockStorageUnitTest.php
index 4572f7d..5704476 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/BlockStorageUnitTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/BlockStorageUnitTest.php
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ protected function setUp() {
     parent::setUp();
 
     $this->controller = $this->container->get('entity_type.manager')->getStorage('block');
+
+    $this->container->get('theme_installer')->install(['stark']);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ protected function createTests() {
     $entity = $this->controller->create(array(
       'id' => 'test_block',
       'theme' => 'stark',
+      'region' => 'content',
       'plugin' => 'test_html',
     ));
     $entity->save();
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ protected function createTests() {
       'dependencies' => array('module' => array('block_test'), 'theme' => array('stark')),
       'id' => 'test_block',
       'theme' => 'stark',
-      'region' => NULL,
+      'region' => 'content',
       'weight' => NULL,
       'provider' => NULL,
       'plugin' => 'test_html',
@@ -111,7 +114,7 @@ protected function loadTests() {
     $this->assertTrue($entity instanceof Block, 'The loaded entity is a Block.');
 
     // Verify several properties of the block.
-    $this->assertEqual($entity->getRegion(), NULL);
+    $this->assertSame('content', $entity->getRegion());
     $this->assertTrue($entity->status());
     $this->assertEqual($entity->getTheme(), 'stark');
     $this->assertTrue($entity->uuid());
diff --git a/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d6/MigrateBlockTest.php b/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d6/MigrateBlockTest.php
index 1ceadd1..4b522f0 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d6/MigrateBlockTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d6/MigrateBlockTest.php
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ class MigrateBlockTest extends MigrateDrupal6TestBase {
    */
   protected function setUp() {
     parent::setUp();
+
+    // Install the themes used for this test.
+    $this->container->get('theme_installer')->install(['bartik', 'seven', 'test_theme']);
+
     $this->installConfig(['block_content']);
     $this->installEntitySchema('block_content');
 
@@ -37,9 +41,6 @@ protected function setUp() {
     $config->set('admin', 'seven');
     $config->save();
 
-    // Install one of D8's test themes.
-    \Drupal::service('theme_handler')->install(['test_theme']);
-
     $this->executeMigrations([
       'd6_filter_format',
       'block_content_type',
diff --git a/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d7/MigrateBlockTest.php b/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d7/MigrateBlockTest.php
index 571c210..ce7992d 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d7/MigrateBlockTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/block/tests/src/Kernel/Migrate/d7/MigrateBlockTest.php
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ class MigrateBlockTest extends MigrateDrupal7TestBase {
    */
   protected function setUp() {
     parent::setUp();
+
+    // Install the themes used for this test.
+    $this->container->get('theme_installer')->install(['bartik', 'seven']);
+
     $this->installConfig(static::$modules);
     $this->installEntitySchema('block_content');
 
@@ -42,9 +46,6 @@ protected function setUp() {
     $config->set('admin', 'seven');
     $config->save();
 
-    // Install one of D8's test themes.
-    \Drupal::service('theme_handler')->install(['bartik']);
-
     $this->executeMigrations([
       'd7_filter_format',
       'd7_user_role',
diff --git a/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaEntityTest.php b/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaEntityTest.php
index af3d658..ebf9e05 100644
--- a/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaEntityTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaEntityTest.php
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 namespace Drupal\Tests\views\Kernel\Handler;
 
-use Drupal\block\Entity\Block;
 use Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityTypeInterface;
 use Drupal\Core\Form\FormState;
+use Drupal\simpletest\BlockCreationTrait;
 use Drupal\Tests\views\Kernel\ViewsKernelTestBase;
 use Drupal\views\Entity\View;
 use Drupal\views\Views;
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
  */
 class AreaEntityTest extends ViewsKernelTestBase {
 
+  use BlockCreationTrait;
+
   /**
    * Modules to enable.
    *
@@ -42,14 +44,15 @@ protected function setUp($import_test_views = TRUE) {
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   protected function setUpFixtures() {
+    // Install the themes used for this test.
+    $this->container->get('theme_installer')->install(['bartik']);
+    $this->container->get('config.factory')->getEditable('system.theme')->set('default', 'bartik')->save();
+
     $this->installEntitySchema('user');
     $this->installEntitySchema('entity_test');
     $this->installConfig(['entity_test']);
 
-    Block::create([
-      'id' => 'test_block',
-      'plugin' => 'system_main_block',
-    ])->save();
+    $this->placeBlock('system_main_block', ['id' => 'test_block']);
 
     parent::setUpFixtures();
   }
diff --git a/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaOrderTest.php b/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaOrderTest.php
index 457c635..3c6ef61 100644
--- a/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaOrderTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/views/tests/src/Kernel/Handler/AreaOrderTest.php
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace Drupal\Tests\views\Kernel\Handler;
 
 use Drupal\block\Entity\Block;
+use Drupal\simpletest\BlockCreationTrait;
 use Drupal\Tests\views\Kernel\ViewsKernelTestBase;
 use Drupal\views\Views;
 
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@
  */
 class AreaOrderTest extends ViewsKernelTestBase {
 
+  use BlockCreationTrait;
+
   /**
    * Modules to enable.
    *
@@ -32,23 +35,21 @@ class AreaOrderTest extends ViewsKernelTestBase {
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   protected function setUpFixtures() {
-    Block::create(
-      [
-        'id' => 'bartik_branding',
-        'theme' => 'bartik',
-        'plugin' => 'system_branding_block',
-        'weight' => 1,
-      ]
-    )->save();
+    // Install the themes used for this test.
+    $this->container->get('theme_installer')->install(['bartik']);
+
+    $this->placeBlock('system_branding_block', [
+      'id' => 'bartik_branding',
+      'theme' => 'bartik',
+      'plugin' => 'system_branding_block',
+      'weight' => 1,
+    ]);
 
-    Block::create(
-      [
-        'id' => 'bartik_powered',
-        'theme' => 'bartik',
-        'plugin' => 'system_powered_by_block',
-        'weight' => 2,
-      ]
-    )->save();
+    $this->placeBlock('system_powered_by_block', [
+      'id' => 'bartik_powered',
+      'theme' => 'bartik',
+      'weight' => 2,
+    ]);
 
     parent::setUpFixtures();
   }