diff --git a/kiwi_scp/config.py b/kiwi_scp/config.py
index d9e0368..44fc137 100644
--- a/kiwi_scp/config.py
+++ b/kiwi_scp/config.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class Config(BaseModel):
         Path("/bin/bash"),
     ]
 
-    projects: Optional[List[_Project]]
+    projects: List[_Project] = []
 
     environment: Dict[str, Optional[str]] = {}
 
@@ -152,6 +152,40 @@ class Config(BaseModel):
 
         return yml_string
 
+    @validator("projects", pre=True)
+    @classmethod
+    def unify_projects(cls, value):
+        """parse different projects notations"""
+
+        if value is None:
+            # empty projects list
+            return []
+
+        elif isinstance(value, list):
+            # handle projects list
+
+            result = []
+            for entry in value:
+                # ignore empties
+                if entry is not None:
+                    if isinstance(entry, dict):
+                        # handle single project dict
+                        result.append(entry)
+
+                    else:
+                        # handle single project name
+                        result.append({"name": str(entry)})
+
+            return result
+
+        elif isinstance(value, dict):
+            # handle single project dict
+            return [value]
+
+        else:
+            # handle single project name
+            return [{"name": str(value)}]
+
     @validator("environment", pre=True)
     @classmethod
     def unify_environment(cls, value) -> Dict[str, Optional[str]]:
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index fa08258..4571946 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -15,13 +15,78 @@ def test_default():
     assert c.version == version
     assert len(c.shells) == 1
     assert c.shells[0] == Path("/bin/bash")
-    assert c.projects is None
+    assert c.projects == []
     assert c.environment == {}
     assert c.storage.directory == Path("/var/local/kiwi")
     assert c.network.name == "kiwi_hub"
     assert c.network.cidr == IPv4Network("10.22.46.0/24")
 
 
+##########
+# PROJECTS
+##########
+
+def test_proj_empty():
+    c = Config(projects=None)
+
+    assert c.projects == []
+
+    c = Config(projects=[])
+
+    assert c.projects == []
+
+
+def test_proj_long():
+    c = Config(projects=[{
+        "name": "project",
+        "enabled": False,
+        "override_storage": {"directory": "/test/directory"},
+    }])
+
+    assert len(c.projects) == 1
+    p = c.projects[0]
+    assert p.name == "project"
+    assert not p.enabled
+    assert p.override_storage is not None
+    assert p.override_storage.directory == Path("/test/directory")
+
+
+def test_proj_short():
+    c = Config(projects=[{
+        "project": False,
+    }])
+
+    assert len(c.projects) == 1
+    p = c.projects[0]
+    assert p.name == "project"
+    assert not p.enabled
+    assert p.override_storage is None
+
+
+def test_proj_dict():
+    c = Config(projects={"name": "project"})
+
+    assert c == Config(projects=[{"name": "project"}])
+
+    assert len(c.projects) == 1
+    p = c.projects[0]
+    assert p.name == "project"
+    assert p.enabled
+    assert p.override_storage is None
+
+
+def test_proj_name():
+    c = Config(projects="project")
+
+    assert c == Config(projects=["project"])
+
+    assert len(c.projects) == 1
+    p = c.projects[0]
+    assert p.name == "project"
+    assert p.enabled
+    assert p.override_storage is None
+
+
 #############
 # ENVIRONMENT
 #############
@@ -37,9 +102,7 @@ def test_env_dict():
 
     assert c.environment == {}
 
-    c = Config(environment={
-        "variable": "value"
-    })
+    c = Config(environment={"variable": "value"})
 
     assert len(c.environment) == 1
     assert "variable" in c.environment