diff --git a/include/sway/commands.h b/include/sway/commands.h
index 3ab8d5af7..511bee4dd 100644
--- a/include/sway/commands.h
+++ b/include/sway/commands.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ enum cmd_status {
 	CMD_SUCCESS, 		/**< The command was successful */
 	CMD_FAILURE,		/**< The command resulted in an error */
 	CMD_INVALID, 		/**< Unknown command or parser error */
-	CMD_DEFER,			/**< Command execution deferred */
+	CMD_DEFER,		/**< Command execution deferred */
 	// Config Blocks
 	CMD_BLOCK_END,
 	CMD_BLOCK_MODE,
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ sway_cmd cmd_client_placeholder;
 sway_cmd cmd_client_background;
 sway_cmd cmd_commands;
 sway_cmd cmd_debuglog;
+sway_cmd cmd_default_border;
+sway_cmd cmd_default_floating_border;
 sway_cmd cmd_exec;
 sway_cmd cmd_exec_always;
 sway_cmd cmd_exit;
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index 068e8866b..58e7f655e 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@ static struct cmd_handler handlers[] = {
 	{ "client.urgent", cmd_client_urgent },
 	{ "commands", cmd_commands },
 	{ "debuglog", cmd_debuglog },
+	{ "default_border", cmd_default_border },
+	{ "default_floating_border", cmd_default_floating_border },
 	{ "default_orientation", cmd_orientation },
 	{ "exec", cmd_exec },
 	{ "exec_always", cmd_exec_always },
diff --git a/sway/commands/default_border.c b/sway/commands/default_border.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f7710b037
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sway/commands/default_border.c
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include "sway/commands.h"
+#include "sway/container.h"
+
+struct cmd_results *cmd_default_border(int argc, char **argv) {
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "default_border", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+
+	if (argc > 2) {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "default_border",
+			"Expected 'default_border <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]");
+	}
+
+	enum swayc_border_types border = config->border;
+	int thickness = config->border_thickness;
+
+	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "none") == 0) {
+		border = B_NONE;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "normal") == 0) {
+		border = B_NORMAL;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "pixel") == 0) {
+		border = B_PIXEL;
+	} else {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "default_border",
+			"Expected 'default_border <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]");
+	}
+
+	if (argc == 2 && (border == B_NORMAL || border == B_PIXEL)) {
+		thickness = (int)strtol(argv[1], NULL, 10);
+		if (errno == ERANGE || thickness < 0) {
+			errno = 0;
+			return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "default_border", "Number is out out of range.");
+		}
+	}
+
+	config->border = border;
+	config->border_thickness = thickness;
+
+	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+}
diff --git a/sway/commands/default_floating_border.c b/sway/commands/default_floating_border.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bbd9b0e04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sway/commands/default_floating_border.c
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include "sway/commands.h"
+#include "sway/container.h"
+
+struct cmd_results *cmd_default_floating_border(int argc, char **argv) {
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "default_floating_border", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+
+	if (argc > 2) {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "default_floating_border",
+			"Expected 'default_floating_border <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]");
+	}
+
+	enum swayc_border_types border = config->floating_border;
+	int thickness = config->floating_border_thickness;
+
+	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "none") == 0) {
+		border = B_NONE;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "normal") == 0) {
+		border = B_NORMAL;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "pixel") == 0) {
+		border = B_PIXEL;
+	} else {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "default_floating_border",
+			"Expected 'default_floating_border <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]");
+	}
+
+	if (argc == 2 && (border == B_NORMAL || border == B_PIXEL)) {
+		thickness = (int)strtol(argv[1], NULL, 10);
+		if (errno == ERANGE || thickness < 0) {
+			errno = 0;
+			return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "default_floating_border",
+				"Number is out out of range.");
+		}
+	}
+
+	config->floating_border = border;
+	config->floating_border_thickness = thickness;
+
+	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+}
diff --git a/sway/commands/new_float.c b/sway/commands/new_float.c
index 8e4e354f8..d0f960930 100644
--- a/sway/commands/new_float.c
+++ b/sway/commands/new_float.c
@@ -1,43 +1,8 @@
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <string.h>
+#include "log.h"
 #include "sway/commands.h"
-#include "sway/container.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_new_float(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "new_float", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if (argc > 2) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "new_float",
-			"Expected 'new_float <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]");
-	}
-
-	enum swayc_border_types border = config->floating_border;
-	int thickness = config->floating_border_thickness;
-
-	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "none") == 0) {
-		border = B_NONE;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "normal") == 0) {
-		border = B_NORMAL;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "pixel") == 0) {
-		border = B_PIXEL;
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "new_float",
-			"Expected 'border <normal|none|pixel>");
-	}
-
-	if (argc == 2 && (border == B_NORMAL || border == B_PIXEL)) {
-		thickness = (int)strtol(argv[1], NULL, 10);
-		if (errno == ERANGE || thickness < 0) {
-			errno = 0;
-			return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "new_float", "Number is out out of range.");
-		}
-	}
-
-	config->floating_border = border;
-	config->floating_border_thickness = thickness;
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	sway_log(L_INFO, "`new_float` is deprecated and will be removed in the future. "
+		"Please use `default_floating_border` instead.");
+	return cmd_default_floating_border(argc, argv);
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/new_window.c b/sway/commands/new_window.c
index 423b5af01..574a45272 100644
--- a/sway/commands/new_window.c
+++ b/sway/commands/new_window.c
@@ -1,43 +1,8 @@
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <string.h>
+#include "log.h"
 #include "sway/commands.h"
-#include "sway/container.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_new_window(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "new_window", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if (argc > 2) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "new_window",
-			"Expected 'new_window <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]");
-	}
-
-	enum swayc_border_types border = config->border;
-	int thickness = config->border_thickness;
-
-	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "none") == 0) {
-		border = B_NONE;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "normal") == 0) {
-		border = B_NORMAL;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "pixel") == 0) {
-		border = B_PIXEL;
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "new_window",
-			"Expected 'border <normal|none|pixel>");
-	}
-
-	if (argc == 2 && (border == B_NORMAL || border == B_PIXEL)) {
-		thickness = (int)strtol(argv[1], NULL, 10);
-		if (errno == ERANGE || thickness < 0) {
-			errno = 0;
-			return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "new_window", "Number is out out of range.");
-		}
-	}
-
-	config->border = border;
-	config->border_thickness = thickness;
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	sway_log(L_INFO, "`new_window` is deprecated and will be removed in the future. "
+		"Please use `default_border` instead.");
+	return cmd_default_border(argc, argv);
 }
diff --git a/sway/sway.5.txt b/sway/sway.5.txt
index 8e3f64ab6..474f67909 100644
--- a/sway/sway.5.txt
+++ b/sway/sway.5.txt
@@ -227,6 +227,18 @@ The default colors are:
 	Enables, disables or toggles debug logging. The toggle argument cannot be used
 	in the configuration file.
 
+**default_border** <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]::
+	Set default border style for new windows. This command was previously called
+	**new_window**. While **new_window** still works, it is considered deprecated
+	and support for it will be removed in the future.
+
+**default_floating_border** <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]::
+	Set default border style for new floating windows. This only applies to
+	windows that are spawned in floating mode, not windows that become floating
+	after the fact. This command was previously called **new_float**. While
+	**new_float** still works, it is considered deprecated and support for it will
+	be removed in the future.
+
 **exec** <shell command>::
 	Executes _shell command_ with sh.
 
@@ -313,14 +325,6 @@ The default colors are:
 	When _output_: place mouse at center of newly focused window when changing
 	output. When _none_: don't move mouse.
 
-**new_window** <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]::
-	Set default border style for new windows.
-
-**new_float** <normal|none|pixel> [<n>]::
-	Set default border style for new floating windows. This only applies to
-	windows that are spawned in floating mode, not windows that become floating
-	after the fact.
-
 **output** <name> <resolution|res> <WIDTHxHEIGHT>::
 	Configures the specified output to use the given resolution.
 	+