diff --git a/docs/labwc-config.5.scd b/docs/labwc-config.5.scd
index ea2a6efb..db0a40c9 100644
--- a/docs/labwc-config.5.scd
+++ b/docs/labwc-config.5.scd
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ No configuration files are needed to start and run labwc.
 In accordance with XDG Base Directory Specification, configuration files are
 searched for in the following order:
 
-- ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/labwc  
-- ${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS:-/etc/xdg}/labwc  
+- ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/labwc
+- ${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS:-/etc/xdg}/labwc
 
 All configuration and theme files except autostart are re-loaded on receiving
 signal SIGHUP.
@@ -136,6 +136,12 @@ The rest of this man page describes configuration options.
 *<theme><font place=""><size>*
 	Font size in pixels. Default is 10.
 
+*<theme><font place=""><slant>*
+	Font slant (normal or italic). Default is normal.
+
+*<theme><font place=""><weight>*
+	Font weight (normal or bold). Default is normal.
+
 ## KEYBOARD
 
 *<keyboard><keybind key="">*
@@ -231,10 +237,10 @@ The rest of this man page describes configuration options.
 ## LIBINPUT
 
 *<libinput><device category="">*
-	Define a category of devices to use the configuration values that 
+	Define a category of devices to use the configuration values that
 	follow. The category can be set to touch (devices that define a width
 	and height), non-touch, default, or the name of a device. You can obtain
-	your devices name by running *libinput list-devices* (you may need to 
+	your devices name by running *libinput list-devices* (you may need to
 	be root or a part of the input group to perform this.) Any members of
 	this category that are not set use the default for the device. With the
 	exception of tap-to-click, which is enabled by default.
@@ -252,9 +258,9 @@ The rest of this man page describes configuration options.
 
 *<libinput><device category=""><accelProfile>* [flat|adaptive]
 	Set the pointer's acceleration profile for this category. Flat applies
-	no acceleration (the pointers velocity is constant), while adaptive 
-	changes the pointers speed based the actual speed of your mouse or 
-	finger on your touchpad. 
+	no acceleration (the pointers velocity is constant), while adaptive
+	changes the pointers speed based the actual speed of your mouse or
+	finger on your touchpad.
 
 *<libinput><device category=""><tap>* [yes|no]
 	Enable or disable tap-to-click for this category. This is enabled by
@@ -273,7 +279,7 @@ The rest of this man page describes configuration options.
 *<libinput>device category=""><disableWhileTyping>* [yes|no]
 	Enable or disable disable while typing for this category. DWT ignores
 	any motion events while a keyboard is typing, and for a short while
-	after as well. 
+	after as well.
 
 ## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
 
@@ -289,7 +295,7 @@ The following keyboard-configuration variables are supported:
 *XKB_DEFAULT_RULES*, *XKB_DEFAULT_MODEL*, *XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT*,
 *XKB_DEFAULT_VARIANT* and *XKB_DEFAULT_OPTIONS*.
 
-See xkeyboard-config(7) for details.  
+See xkeyboard-config(7) for details.
 
 # SEE ALSO
 
diff --git a/docs/rc.xml.all b/docs/rc.xml.all
index 457038dc..12610e79 100644
--- a/docs/rc.xml.all
+++ b/docs/rc.xml.all
@@ -19,9 +19,24 @@
   <theme>
     <name></name>
     <cornerRadius>8</cornerRadius>
-    <font place="ActiveWindow"><name>sans</name><size>10</size></font>
-    <font place="MenuItem"><name>sans</name><size>10</size></font>
-    <font place="OSD"><name>sans</name><size>10</size></font>
+    <font place="ActiveWindow">
+      <name>sans</name>
+      <size>10</size>
+      <slant>normal</slant>
+      <weight>normal</weight>
+    </font>
+    <font place="MenuItem">
+      <name>sans</name>
+      <size>10</size>
+      <slant>normal</slant>
+      <weight>normal</weight>
+    </font>
+    <font place="OSD">
+      <name>sans</name>
+      <size>10</size>
+      <slant>normal</slant>
+      <weight>normal</weight>
+    </font>
   </theme>
 
   <!-- edge strength is in pixels -->
diff --git a/include/common/font.h b/include/common/font.h
index afb78cf9..22d9097a 100644
--- a/include/common/font.h
+++ b/include/common/font.h
@@ -4,11 +4,25 @@
 
 struct lab_data_buffer;
 
+enum font_slant {
+	FONT_SLANT_NORMAL,
+	FONT_SLANT_ITALIC
+};
+
+enum font_weight {
+	FONT_WEIGHT_NORMAL,
+	FONT_WEIGHT_BOLD
+};
+
 struct font {
 	char *name;
 	int size;
+	enum font_slant slant;
+	enum font_weight weight;
 };
 
+struct _PangoFontDescription *font_to_pango_desc(struct font *font);
+
 /**
  * font_height - get font vertical extents
  * @font: description of font including family name and size
diff --git a/include/config/rcxml.h b/include/config/rcxml.h
index 3f6b248d..ed1679e4 100644
--- a/include/config/rcxml.h
+++ b/include/config/rcxml.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <wayland-server-core.h>
 
 #include "common/buf.h"
+#include "common/font.h"
 #include "config/libinput.h"
 #include "theme.h"
 
@@ -25,12 +26,9 @@ struct rcxml {
 	/* theme */
 	char *theme_name;
 	int corner_radius;
-	char *font_name_activewindow;
-	char *font_name_menuitem;
-	char *font_name_osd;
-	int font_size_activewindow;
-	int font_size_menuitem;
-	int font_size_osd;
+	struct font font_activewindow;
+	struct font font_menuitem;
+	struct font font_osd;
 	/* Pointer to current theme */
 	struct theme *theme;
 
diff --git a/src/common/font.c b/src/common/font.c
index ff1b84da..091863b6 100644
--- a/src/common/font.c
+++ b/src/common/font.c
@@ -11,6 +11,21 @@
 #include "labwc.h"
 #include "buffer.h"
 
+PangoFontDescription *
+font_to_pango_desc(struct font *font)
+{
+	PangoFontDescription *desc = pango_font_description_new();
+	pango_font_description_set_family(desc, font->name);
+	pango_font_description_set_size(desc, font->size * PANGO_SCALE);
+	if (font->slant == FONT_SLANT_ITALIC) {
+		pango_font_description_set_style(desc, PANGO_STYLE_ITALIC);
+	}
+	if (font->weight == FONT_WEIGHT_BOLD) {
+		pango_font_description_set_weight(desc, PANGO_WEIGHT_BOLD);
+	}
+	return desc;
+}
+
 static PangoRectangle
 font_extents(struct font *font, const char *string)
 {
@@ -25,9 +40,7 @@ font_extents(struct font *font, const char *string)
 	surface = cairo_image_surface_create(CAIRO_FORMAT_ARGB32, 1, 1);
 	c = cairo_create(surface);
 	layout = pango_cairo_create_layout(c);
-	PangoFontDescription *desc = pango_font_description_new();
-	pango_font_description_set_family(desc, font->name);
-	pango_font_description_set_size(desc, font->size * PANGO_SCALE);
+	PangoFontDescription *desc = font_to_pango_desc(font);
 
 	pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
 	pango_layout_set_text(layout, string, -1);
@@ -108,9 +121,7 @@ font_buffer_create(struct lab_data_buffer **buffer, int max_width,
 	pango_layout_set_text(layout, text, -1);
 	pango_layout_set_ellipsize(layout, PANGO_ELLIPSIZE_END);
 
-	PangoFontDescription *desc = pango_font_description_new();
-	pango_font_description_set_family(desc, font->name);
-	pango_font_description_set_size(desc, font->size * PANGO_SCALE);
+	PangoFontDescription *desc = font_to_pango_desc(font);
 	pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
 	pango_font_description_free(desc);
 	pango_cairo_update_layout(cairo, layout);
diff --git a/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c b/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c
index e608d20a..76f8ad75 100644
--- a/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c
+++ b/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ scaled_font_buffer_update(struct scaled_font_buffer *self, const char *text,
 		self->font.name = strdup(font->name);
 	}
 	self->font.size = font->size;
+	self->font.slant = font->slant;
+	self->font.weight = font->weight;
 	memcpy(self->color, color, sizeof(self->color));
 	self->arrow = arrow ? strdup(arrow) : NULL;
 
diff --git a/src/config/rcxml.c b/src/config/rcxml.c
index fd70fd45..155a4527 100644
--- a/src/config/rcxml.c
+++ b/src/config/rcxml.c
@@ -236,6 +236,23 @@ fill_libinput_category(char *nodename, char *content)
 	}
 }
 
+static void
+set_font_attr(struct font *font, const char *nodename, const char *content)
+{
+	if (!strcmp(nodename, "name")) {
+		zfree(font->name);
+		font->name = strdup(content);
+	} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "size")) {
+		font->size = atoi(content);
+	} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "slant")) {
+		font->slant = !strcasecmp(content, "italic") ?
+			FONT_SLANT_ITALIC : FONT_SLANT_NORMAL;
+	} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "weight")) {
+		font->weight = !strcasecmp(content, "bold") ?
+			FONT_WEIGHT_BOLD : FONT_WEIGHT_NORMAL;
+	}
+}
+
 static void
 fill_font(char *nodename, char *content, enum font_place place)
 {
@@ -250,36 +267,18 @@ fill_font(char *nodename, char *content, enum font_place place)
 		 * If <theme><font></font></theme> is used without a place=""
 		 * attribute, we set all font variables
 		 */
-		if (!strcmp(nodename, "name")) {
-			rc.font_name_activewindow = strdup(content);
-			rc.font_name_menuitem = strdup(content);
-			rc.font_name_osd = strdup(content);
-		} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "size")) {
-			rc.font_size_activewindow = atoi(content);
-			rc.font_size_menuitem = atoi(content);
-			rc.font_size_osd = atoi(content);
-		}
+		set_font_attr(&rc.font_activewindow, nodename, content);
+		set_font_attr(&rc.font_menuitem, nodename, content);
+		set_font_attr(&rc.font_osd, nodename, content);
 		break;
 	case FONT_PLACE_ACTIVEWINDOW:
-		if (!strcmp(nodename, "name")) {
-			rc.font_name_activewindow = strdup(content);
-		} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "size")) {
-			rc.font_size_activewindow = atoi(content);
-		}
+		set_font_attr(&rc.font_activewindow, nodename, content);
 		break;
 	case FONT_PLACE_MENUITEM:
-		if (!strcmp(nodename, "name")) {
-			rc.font_name_menuitem = strdup(content);
-		} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "size")) {
-			rc.font_size_menuitem = atoi(content);
-		}
+		set_font_attr(&rc.font_menuitem, nodename, content);
 		break;
 	case FONT_PLACE_OSD:
-		if (!strcmp(nodename, "name")) {
-			rc.font_name_osd = strdup(content);
-		} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "size")) {
-			rc.font_size_osd = atoi(content);
-		}
+		set_font_attr(&rc.font_osd, nodename, content);
 		break;
 
 		/* TODO: implement for all font places */
@@ -368,6 +367,10 @@ entry(xmlNode *node, char *nodename, char *content)
 		fill_font(nodename, content, font_place);
 	} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "size.font.theme")) {
 		fill_font(nodename, content, font_place);
+	} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "slant.font.theme")) {
+		fill_font(nodename, content, font_place);
+	} else if (!strcmp(nodename, "weight.font.theme")) {
+		fill_font(nodename, content, font_place);
 	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "followMouse.focus")) {
 		rc.focus_follow_mouse = get_bool(content);
 	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "raiseOnFocus.focus")) {
@@ -491,9 +494,9 @@ rcxml_init()
 	wl_list_init(&rc.libinput_categories);
 	rc.xdg_shell_server_side_deco = true;
 	rc.corner_radius = 8;
-	rc.font_size_activewindow = 10;
-	rc.font_size_menuitem = 10;
-	rc.font_size_osd = 10;
+	rc.font_activewindow.size = 10;
+	rc.font_menuitem.size = 10;
+	rc.font_osd.size = 10;
 	rc.doubleclick_time = 500;
 	rc.repeat_rate = 25;
 	rc.repeat_delay = 600;
@@ -666,14 +669,14 @@ post_processing(void)
 	/* Replace all earlier mousebindings by later ones */
 	merge_mouse_bindings();
 
-	if (!rc.font_name_activewindow) {
-		rc.font_name_activewindow = strdup("sans");
+	if (!rc.font_activewindow.name) {
+		rc.font_activewindow.name = strdup("sans");
 	}
-	if (!rc.font_name_menuitem) {
-		rc.font_name_menuitem = strdup("sans");
+	if (!rc.font_menuitem.name) {
+		rc.font_menuitem.name = strdup("sans");
 	}
-	if (!rc.font_name_osd) {
-		rc.font_name_osd = strdup("sans");
+	if (!rc.font_osd.name) {
+		rc.font_osd.name = strdup("sans");
 	}
 	if (!wl_list_length(&rc.libinput_categories)) {
 		/* So we still allow tap to click by default */
@@ -759,9 +762,9 @@ no_config:
 void
 rcxml_finish(void)
 {
-	zfree(rc.font_name_activewindow);
-	zfree(rc.font_name_menuitem);
-	zfree(rc.font_name_osd);
+	zfree(rc.font_activewindow.name);
+	zfree(rc.font_menuitem.name);
+	zfree(rc.font_osd.name);
 	zfree(rc.theme_name);
 
 	struct keybind *k, *k_tmp;
diff --git a/src/menu/menu.c b/src/menu/menu.c
index 0aeae373..bb72cd1b 100644
--- a/src/menu/menu.c
+++ b/src/menu/menu.c
@@ -88,13 +88,10 @@ item_create(struct menu *menu, const char *text, bool show_arrow)
 	menuitem->selectable = true;
 	struct server *server = menu->server;
 	struct theme *theme = server->theme;
-	struct font font = {
-		.name = rc.font_name_menuitem,
-		.size = rc.font_size_menuitem,
-	};
 
 	if (!menu->item_height) {
-		menu->item_height = font_height(&font) + 2 * MENU_ITEM_PADDING_Y;
+		menu->item_height = font_height(&rc.font_menuitem)
+			+ 2 * MENU_ITEM_PADDING_Y;
 	}
 	menuitem->height = menu->item_height;
 
@@ -139,9 +136,9 @@ item_create(struct menu *menu, const char *text, bool show_arrow)
 	/* Font buffers */
 	const char *arrow = show_arrow ? "›" : NULL;
 	scaled_font_buffer_update(menuitem->normal.buffer, text, item_max_width,
-		&font, theme->menu_items_text_color, arrow);
+		&rc.font_menuitem, theme->menu_items_text_color, arrow);
 	scaled_font_buffer_update(menuitem->selected.buffer, text, item_max_width,
-		&font, theme->menu_items_active_text_color, arrow);
+		&rc.font_menuitem, theme->menu_items_active_text_color, arrow);
 
 	/* Center font nodes */
 	x = MENU_ITEM_PADDING_X;
diff --git a/src/osd.c b/src/osd.c
index da6f5028..9b419f51 100644
--- a/src/osd.c
+++ b/src/osd.c
@@ -304,13 +304,7 @@ osd_update(struct server *server)
 			(OSD_ITEM_WIDTH - 2 * OSD_ITEM_PADDING) * PANGO_SCALE);
 		pango_layout_set_ellipsize(layout, PANGO_ELLIPSIZE_END);
 
-		struct font font = {
-			.name = rc.font_name_osd,
-			.size = rc.font_size_osd,
-		};
-		PangoFontDescription *desc = pango_font_description_new();
-		pango_font_description_set_family(desc, font.name);
-		pango_font_description_set_size(desc, font.size * PANGO_SCALE);
+		PangoFontDescription *desc = font_to_pango_desc(&rc.font_osd);
 		pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
 
 		PangoTabArray *tabs = pango_tab_array_new_with_positions(2, TRUE,
@@ -323,19 +317,20 @@ osd_update(struct server *server)
 		y = OSD_BORDER_WIDTH;
 
 		/* Center text entries on the y axis */
-		int y_offset = (OSD_ITEM_HEIGHT - font_height(&font)) / 2;
+		int y_offset = (OSD_ITEM_HEIGHT - font_height(&rc.font_osd)) / 2;
 		y += y_offset;
 
 		if (show_workspace) {
 			/* Center workspace indicator on the x axis */
-			int x = font_width(&font, server->workspace_current->name);
+			int x = font_width(&rc.font_osd, server->workspace_current->name);
 			x = (OSD_ITEM_WIDTH - x) / 2;
 			cairo_move_to(cairo, x, y);
+			PangoWeight weight = pango_font_description_get_weight(desc);
 			pango_font_description_set_weight(desc, PANGO_WEIGHT_BOLD);
 			pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
 			pango_layout_set_text(layout, server->workspace_current->name, -1);
 			pango_cairo_show_layout(cairo, layout);
-			pango_font_description_set_weight(desc, PANGO_WEIGHT_NORMAL);
+			pango_font_description_set_weight(desc, weight);
 			pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
 			y += OSD_ITEM_HEIGHT;
 		}
diff --git a/src/ssd/ssd_titlebar.c b/src/ssd/ssd_titlebar.c
index 4f5bd9a0..b2cfe0ef 100644
--- a/src/ssd/ssd_titlebar.c
+++ b/src/ssd/ssd_titlebar.c
@@ -216,12 +216,6 @@ ssd_update_title(struct view *view)
 	struct ssd_state_title *state = &view->ssd.state.title;
 	bool title_unchanged = state->text && !strcmp(title, state->text);
 
-	/* TODO: Do we only have active window fonts? */
-	struct font font = {
-		.name = rc.font_name_activewindow,
-		.size = rc.font_size_activewindow,
-	};
-
 	float *text_color;
 	struct ssd_part *part;
 	struct ssd_sub_tree *subtree;
@@ -261,8 +255,10 @@ ssd_update_title(struct view *view)
 		}
 
 		if (part->buffer) {
+			/* TODO: Do we only have active window fonts? */
 			scaled_font_buffer_update(part->buffer, title,
-				title_bg_width, &font, text_color, NULL);
+				title_bg_width, &rc.font_activewindow,
+				text_color, NULL);
 		}
 
 		/* And finally update the cache */
diff --git a/src/theme.c b/src/theme.c
index bdd6a21a..45af59f8 100644
--- a/src/theme.c
+++ b/src/theme.c
@@ -473,11 +473,8 @@ create_corners(struct theme *theme)
 static void
 post_processing(struct theme *theme)
 {
-	struct font font = {
-		.name = rc.font_name_activewindow,
-		.size = rc.font_size_activewindow,
-	};
-	theme->title_height = font_height(&font) + 2 * theme->padding_height;
+	theme->title_height = font_height(&rc.font_activewindow)
+		+ 2 * theme->padding_height;
 
 	if (rc.corner_radius >= theme->title_height) {
 		theme->title_height = rc.corner_radius + 1;
diff --git a/src/workspaces.c b/src/workspaces.c
index 9e61f4b9..b6a9f664 100644
--- a/src/workspaces.c
+++ b/src/workspaces.c
@@ -57,16 +57,12 @@ _osd_update(struct server *server)
 	uint16_t padding = 2;
 	uint16_t rect_height = 20;
 	uint16_t rect_width = 20;
-	struct font font = {
-		.name = rc.font_name_osd,
-		.size = rc.font_size_osd,
-	};
 
 	/* Dimensions */
 	size_t workspace_count = wl_list_length(&server->workspaces);
 	uint16_t marker_width = workspace_count * (rect_width + padding) - padding;
 	uint16_t width = margin * 2 + (marker_width < 200 ? 200 : marker_width);
-	uint16_t height = margin * 3 + rect_height + font_height(&font);
+	uint16_t height = margin * 3 + rect_height + font_height(&rc.font_osd);
 
 	cairo_t *cairo;
 	cairo_surface_t *surface;
@@ -113,13 +109,11 @@ _osd_update(struct server *server)
 		pango_layout_set_width(layout, (width - 2 * margin) * PANGO_SCALE);
 		pango_layout_set_ellipsize(layout, PANGO_ELLIPSIZE_END);
 
-		PangoFontDescription *desc = pango_font_description_new();
-		pango_font_description_set_family(desc, font.name);
-		pango_font_description_set_size(desc, font.size * PANGO_SCALE);
+		PangoFontDescription *desc = font_to_pango_desc(&rc.font_osd);
 		pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
 
 		/* Center workspace indicator on the x axis */
-		x = font_width(&font, server->workspace_current->name);
+		x = font_width(&rc.font_osd, server->workspace_current->name);
 		x = (width - x) / 2;
 		cairo_move_to(cairo, x, margin * 2 + rect_height);
 		//pango_font_description_set_weight(desc, PANGO_WEIGHT_BOLD);