diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 6d234264..6b9663e7 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -16,6 +16,31 @@
 #define LOG_ENABLE_DBG 0
 #include "log.h"
 
+static const uint32_t default_foreground = 0xdcdccc;
+static const uint32_t default_background = 0x111111;
+
+static const uint32_t default_regular[] = {
+    0x000000,
+    0xcc9393,
+    0x7f9f7f,
+    0xd0bf8f,
+    0x6ca0a3,
+    0xdc8cc3,
+    0x93e0e3,
+    0xdcdccc,
+};
+
+static const uint32_t default_bright[] = {
+    0x000000,
+    0xdca3a3,
+    0xbfebbf,
+    0xf0dfaf,
+    0x8cd0d3,
+    0xdc8cc3,
+    0x93e0e3,
+    0xffffff,
+};
+
 static char *
 get_shell(void)
 {
@@ -108,11 +133,60 @@ parse_section_main(const char *key, const char *value, struct config *conf,
     return true;
 }
 
+static bool
+parse_section_colors(const char *key, const char *value, struct config *conf,
+                     const char *path, unsigned lineno)
+{
+    uint32_t *color = NULL;
+
+    if (strcmp(key, "foreground") == 0)      color = &conf->colors.fg;
+    else if (strcmp(key, "background") == 0) color = &conf->colors.bg;
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular0") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[0];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular1") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[1];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular2") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[2];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular3") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[3];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular4") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[4];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular5") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[5];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular6") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[6];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "regular7") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.regular[7];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright0") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[0];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright1") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[1];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright2") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[2];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright3") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[3];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright4") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[4];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright5") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[5];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright6") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[6];
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bright7") == 0)    color = &conf->colors.bright[7];
+
+    else {
+        LOG_ERR("%s:%d: invalid key: %s", path, lineno, key);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    errno = 0;
+    char *end = NULL;
+    unsigned long res = strtoul(value, &end, 16);
+
+    if (errno != 0) {
+        LOG_ERRNO("%s:%d: invalid color: %s", path, lineno, value);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (*end != '\0') {
+        LOG_ERR("%s:%d: invalid color: %s", path, lineno, value);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    *color = res & 0xffffff;
+    return true;
+}
+
 static bool
 parse_config_file(FILE *f, struct config *conf, const char *path)
 {
     enum section {
         SECTION_MAIN,
+        SECTION_COLORS,
     } section = SECTION_MAIN;
 
     /* Function pointer, called for each key/value line */
@@ -123,11 +197,13 @@ parse_config_file(FILE *f, struct config *conf, const char *path)
     /* Maps sections to line parser functions */
     static const parser_fun_t section_parser_map[] = {
         [SECTION_MAIN] = &parse_section_main,
+        [SECTION_COLORS] = &parse_section_colors,
     };
 
 #if defined(_DEBUG) && defined(LOG_ENABLE_DBG) && LOG_ENABLE_DBG
     static const char *const section_names[] = {
         [SECTION_MAIN] = "main",
+        [SECTION_COLORS] = "colors",
     };
 #endif
 
@@ -150,10 +226,25 @@ parse_config_file(FILE *f, struct config *conf, const char *path)
             break;
         }
 
-        /* No sections yet */
-        if (line[0] == '[' && line[strlen(line) - 1] == ']') {
-            assert(false);
-            return false;
+        if (line[0] == '[') {
+            char *end = strchr(line, ']');
+            if (end == NULL) {
+                LOG_ERR("%s:%d: syntax error: %s", path, lineno, line);
+                free(line);
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            *end = '\0';
+
+            if (strcmp(&line[1], "colors") == 0)
+                section = SECTION_COLORS;
+            else {
+                LOG_ERR("%s:%d: invalid section name: %s", path, lineno, &line[1]);
+                free(line);
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            continue;
         }
 
         char *key = strtok(line, "=");
@@ -219,6 +310,31 @@ config_load(struct config *conf)
         .term = strdup("foot"),
         .shell = get_shell(),
         .font = strdup("monospace"),
+
+        .colors = {
+            .fg = default_foreground,
+            .bg = default_background,
+            .regular = {
+                default_regular[0],
+                default_regular[1],
+                default_regular[2],
+                default_regular[3],
+                default_regular[4],
+                default_regular[5],
+                default_regular[6],
+                default_regular[7],
+            },
+            .bright = {
+                default_bright[0],
+                default_bright[1],
+                default_bright[2],
+                default_bright[3],
+                default_bright[4],
+                default_bright[5],
+                default_bright[6],
+                default_bright[7],
+            },
+        },
     };
 
     char *path = get_config_path();
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index fdca3c34..0db93269 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
 struct config {
     char *term;
     char *shell;
     char *font;
+
+    struct {
+        uint32_t fg;
+        uint32_t bg;
+        uint32_t regular[8];
+        uint32_t bright[8];
+    } colors;
 };
 
 bool config_load(struct config *conf);
diff --git a/csi.c b/csi.c
index 7709dfd6..4d1921bd 100644
--- a/csi.c
+++ b/csi.c
@@ -18,101 +18,37 @@
 
 #define min(x, y) ((x) < (y) ? (x) : (y))
 
-#if 0
-static const struct rgb colors_regular[] = {
-    {0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000},  /* 0x000000 */
-    {0.800000, 0.576471, 0.576471},  /* 0xcc9393 */
-    {0.498039, 0.623529, 0.498039},  /* 0x7f9f7f */
-    {0.815686, 0.749020, 0.560784},  /* 0xd0bf8f */
-    {0.423529, 0.627451, 0.639216},  /* 0x6ca0a3 */
-    {0.862745, 0.549020, 0.764706},  /* 0xdc8cc3 */
-    {0.576471, 0.878431, 0.890196},  /* 0x93e0e3 */
-    {0.862745, 0.862745, 0.800000},  /* 0xdcdccc */
-};
-
-static const struct rgb colors_bright[] = {
-    {0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000},  /* 0x000000 */
-    {0.862745, 0.639216, 0.639216},  /* 0xdca3a3 */
-    {0.749020, 0.921569, 0.749020},  /* 0xbfebbf */
-    {0.941176, 0.874510, 0.686275},  /* 0xf0dfaf */
-    {0.549020, 0.815686, 0.827451},  /* 0x8cd0d3 */
-    {0.862745, 0.549020, 0.764706},  /* 0xdc8cc3 */
-    {0.576471, 0.878431, 0.890196},  /* 0x93e0e3 */
-    {1.000000, 1.000000, 1.000000},  /* 0xffffff */
-};
-
-static struct rgb colors256[256];
-#else
-static const uint32_t colors_regular[] = {
-    0x000000,
-    0xcc9393,
-    0x7f9f7f,
-    0xd0bf8f,
-    0x6ca0a3,
-    0xdc8cc3,
-    0x93e0e3,
-    0xdcdccc,
-};
-
-static const uint32_t colors_bright[] = {
-    0x000000,
-    0xdca3a3,
-    0xbfebbf,
-    0xf0dfaf,
-    0x8cd0d3,
-    0xdc8cc3,
-    0x93e0e3,
-    0xffffff,
-};
-
 static uint32_t colors256[256];
-#endif
 
 static void __attribute__((constructor))
 initialize_colors256(void)
 {
+#if 0 /* pick colors from term struct instead, since they can be changed runtime */
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 8; i++)
         colors256[i] = colors_regular[i];
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 8; i++)
         colors256[8 + i] = colors_bright[i];
+#endif
 
     for (size_t r = 0; r < 6; r++) {
         for (size_t g = 0; g < 6; g++) {
             for (size_t b = 0; b < 6; b++) {
-#if 0
-                colors256[16 + r * 6 * 6 + g * 6 + b] = (struct rgb) {
-                    r * 51 / 255.0,
-                    g * 51 / 255.0,
-                    b * 51 / 255.0,
-                };
-#else
                 colors256[16 + r * 6 * 6 + g * 6 + b]
                     = r * 51 << 16 | g * 51 << 8 | b * 51;
-#endif
             }
         }
     }
 
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < 24; i++){
-#if 0
-        colors256[232 + i] = (struct rgb) {
-            i * 11 / 255.0,
-            i * 11 / 255.0,
-            i * 11 / 255.0,
-        };
-#else
-        /* TODO: i + 1? */
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < 24; i++)
         colors256[232 + i] = i * 11 << 16 | i * 11 << 8 | i * 11;
-#endif
-    }
 }
 
 static void
 sgr_reset(struct terminal *term)
 {
     memset(&term->vt.attrs, 0, sizeof(term->vt.attrs));
-    term->vt.attrs.foreground = term->foreground;
-    term->vt.attrs.background = term->background;
+    term->vt.attrs.foreground = term->colors.fg;
+    term->vt.attrs.background = term->colors.bg;
 }
 
 static const char *
@@ -190,7 +126,7 @@ csi_sgr(struct terminal *term)
         case 35:
         case 36:
         case 37:
-            term->vt.attrs.foreground = 1 << 31 | colors_regular[param - 30];
+            term->vt.attrs.foreground = 1 << 31 | term->colors.regular[param - 30];
             break;
 
         case 38: {
@@ -198,7 +134,14 @@ csi_sgr(struct terminal *term)
                 term->vt.params.v[i + 1].value == 5)
             {
                 uint8_t idx = term->vt.params.v[i + 2].value;
-                term->vt.attrs.foreground = 1 << 31 | colors256[idx];
+                uint32_t color;
+                if (idx < 8)
+                    color = term->colors.regular[idx];
+                else if (idx < 16)
+                    color = term->colors.bright[idx - 8];
+                else
+                    color = colors256[idx];
+                term->vt.attrs.foreground = 1 << 31 | color;
                 i += 2;
 
             }
@@ -252,7 +195,7 @@ csi_sgr(struct terminal *term)
         case 45:
         case 46:
         case 47:
-            term->vt.attrs.background = 1 << 31 | colors_regular[param - 40];
+            term->vt.attrs.background = 1 << 31 | term->colors.regular[param - 40];
             break;
 
         case 48: {
@@ -260,7 +203,15 @@ csi_sgr(struct terminal *term)
                 term->vt.params.v[i + 1].value == 5)
             {
                 uint8_t idx = term->vt.params.v[i + 2].value;
-                term->vt.attrs.background = 1 << 31 | colors256[idx];
+                uint32_t color;
+
+                if (idx < 8)
+                    color = term->colors.regular[idx];
+                else if (idx < 16)
+                    color = term->colors.bright[idx - 8];
+                else
+                    color = colors256[idx];
+                term->vt.attrs.background = 1 << 31 | color;
                 i += 2;
             }
 
@@ -314,7 +265,7 @@ csi_sgr(struct terminal *term)
         case 95:
         case 96:
         case 97:
-            term->vt.attrs.foreground = 1 << 31 | colors_bright[param - 90];
+            term->vt.attrs.foreground = 1 << 31 | term->colors.bright[param - 90];
             break;
 
         /* Regular background colors */
@@ -326,7 +277,7 @@ csi_sgr(struct terminal *term)
         case 105:
         case 106:
         case 107:
-            term->vt.attrs.background = 1 << 31 | colors_bright[param - 100];
+            term->vt.attrs.background = 1 << 31 | term->colors.bright[param - 100];
             break;
 
         default:
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 0c618d39..aedc1a29 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -36,14 +36,6 @@
 #define min(x, y) ((x) < (y) ? (x) : (y))
 #define max(x, y) ((x) > (y) ? (x) : (y))
 
-#if 0
-static const struct rgb default_foreground = {0.86, 0.86, 0.86};
-static const struct rgb default_background = {0.067, 0.067, 0.067};
-#else
-static const uint32_t default_foreground = 0xdcdccc;
-static const uint32_t default_background = 0x111111;
-#endif
-
 static void
 shm_format(void *data, struct wl_shm *wl_shm, uint32_t format)
 {
@@ -335,8 +327,8 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
         .vt = {
             .state = 1,  /* STATE_GROUND */
             .attrs = {
-                .foreground = default_foreground,
-                .background = default_background,
+                //.foreground = conf.colors.fg,
+                //.background = conf.colors.bg
             },
         },
         .kbd = {
@@ -346,8 +338,30 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
                 .cmd = REPEAT_STOP,
             },
         },
-        .foreground = default_foreground,
-        .background = default_background,
+        .colors = {
+            .default_fg = conf.colors.fg,
+            .default_bg = conf.colors.bg,
+            .default_regular = {
+                conf.colors.regular[0],
+                conf.colors.regular[1],
+                conf.colors.regular[2],
+                conf.colors.regular[3],
+                conf.colors.regular[4],
+                conf.colors.regular[5],
+                conf.colors.regular[6],
+                conf.colors.regular[7],
+            },
+            .default_bright = {
+                conf.colors.bright[0],
+                conf.colors.bright[1],
+                conf.colors.bright[2],
+                conf.colors.bright[3],
+                conf.colors.bright[4],
+                conf.colors.bright[5],
+                conf.colors.bright[6],
+                conf.colors.bright[7],
+            },
+        },
         .selection = {
             .start = {-1, -1},
             .end = {-1, -1},
@@ -357,6 +371,14 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
         .grid = &term.normal,
     };
 
+    /* Initialize 'current' colors from the default colors */
+    term.colors.fg = term.colors.default_fg;
+    term.colors.bg = term.colors.default_bg;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+        term.colors.regular[i] = term.colors.default_regular[i];
+        term.colors.bright[i] = term.colors.default_bright[i];
+    }
+
     if (term.ptmx == -1) {
         LOG_ERRNO("failed to open pseudo terminal");
         goto out;
diff --git a/osc.c b/osc.c
index bd693a8d..02f393b6 100644
--- a/osc.c
+++ b/osc.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ osc_query(struct terminal *term, unsigned param)
     switch (param) {
     case 10:
     case 11: {
-        uint32_t color = param == 10 ? term->foreground : term->background;
+        uint32_t color = param == 10 ? term->colors.fg : term->colors.bg;
         uint8_t r = (color >> 16) & 0xff;
         uint8_t g = (color >>  8) & 0xff;
         uint8_t b = (color >>  0) & 0xff;
diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index 5b3c2956..f9c7fbca 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ render_cell(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, const struct cell *cell,
 
     uint32_t _fg = cell->attrs.foreground >> 31
         ? cell->attrs.foreground
-        : !term->reverse ? term->foreground : term->background;
+        : !term->reverse ? term->colors.fg : term->colors.bg;
     uint32_t _bg = cell->attrs.background >> 31
         ? cell->attrs.background
-        : !term->reverse ? term->background : term->foreground;
+        : !term->reverse ? term->colors.bg : term->colors.fg;
 
     /* If *one* is set, we reverse */
     if (has_cursor ^ cell->attrs.reverse ^ is_selected) {
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
             int rmargin_width = term->width - rmargin;
             int bmargin_height = term->height - bmargin;
 
-            uint32_t _bg = !term->reverse ? term->background : term->foreground;
+            uint32_t _bg = !term->reverse ? term->colors.bg : term->colors.fg;
             struct rgb bg = color_hex_to_rgb(_bg);
             cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo, bg.r, bg.g, bg.b);
 
diff --git a/terminal.h b/terminal.h
index c0d68f21..c757065a 100644
--- a/terminal.h
+++ b/terminal.h
@@ -259,8 +259,17 @@ struct terminal {
     bool print_needs_wrap;
     struct scroll_region scroll_region;
 
-    uint32_t foreground;
-    uint32_t background;
+    struct {
+        uint32_t fg;
+        uint32_t bg;
+        uint32_t regular[8];
+        uint32_t bright[8];
+
+        uint32_t default_fg;
+        uint32_t default_bg;
+        uint32_t default_regular[8];
+        uint32_t default_bright[8];
+    } colors;
 
     struct {
         int col;