diff --git a/include/sway/config.h b/include/sway/config.h
index 9b3cc60c2..8d077ee74 100644
--- a/include/sway/config.h
+++ b/include/sway/config.h
@@ -145,35 +145,27 @@ struct bar_config {
 	bool verbose;
 	pid_t pid;
 	struct {
-		char background[10];
-		char statusline[10];
-		char separator[10];
-		char focused_background[10];
-		char focused_statusline[10];
-		char focused_separator[10];
-		char focused_workspace_border[10];
-		char focused_workspace_bg[10];
-		char focused_workspace_text[10];
-		char active_workspace_border[10];
-		char active_workspace_bg[10];
-		char active_workspace_text[10];
-		char inactive_workspace_border[10];
-		char inactive_workspace_bg[10];
-		char inactive_workspace_text[10];
-		char urgent_workspace_border[10];
-		char urgent_workspace_bg[10];
-		char urgent_workspace_text[10];
-		char binding_mode_border[10];
-		char binding_mode_bg[10];
-		char binding_mode_text[10];
-
-		bool has_focused_background;
-		bool has_focused_statusline;
-		bool has_focused_separator;
-
-		bool has_binding_mode_border;
-		bool has_binding_mode_bg;
-		bool has_binding_mode_text;
+		char *background;
+		char *statusline;
+		char *separator;
+		char *focused_background;
+		char *focused_statusline;
+		char *focused_separator;
+		char *focused_workspace_border;
+		char *focused_workspace_bg;
+		char *focused_workspace_text;
+		char *active_workspace_border;
+		char *active_workspace_bg;
+		char *active_workspace_text;
+		char *inactive_workspace_border;
+		char *inactive_workspace_bg;
+		char *inactive_workspace_text;
+		char *urgent_workspace_border;
+		char *urgent_workspace_bg;
+		char *urgent_workspace_text;
+		char *binding_mode_border;
+		char *binding_mode_bg;
+		char *binding_mode_text;
 	} colors;
 };
 
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index 872e9fc32..de29a7af5 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ struct cmd_results *add_color(const char *name, char *buffer, const char *color)
 		buffer[7] = 'f';
 		buffer[8] = 'f';
 	}
+	buffer[9] = '\0';
 
 	return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/colors.c b/sway/commands/bar/colors.c
index 8fb7fe270..f6fb520a0 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/colors.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/colors.c
@@ -1,6 +1,44 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 
+static struct cmd_results *parse_single_color(char **color, const char *cmd_name, int argc, char **argv) {
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, cmd_name, EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+
+	if (!*color) {
+		*color = malloc(10);
+	}
+
+	error = add_color(cmd_name, *color, argv[0]);
+	if (error) {
+		return error;
+	}
+
+	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+static struct cmd_results *parse_three_colors(char ***colors, const char *cmd_name, int argc, char **argv) {
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if (argc != 3) {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, cmd_name, "Requires exactly three color values");
+	}
+
+	int i;
+	for (i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+		if (!*colors[i]) {
+			*(colors[i]) = malloc(10);
+		}
+		error = add_color(cmd_name, *(colors[i]), argv[i]);
+		if (error) {
+			return error;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+}
+
 struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_colors(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "colors", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
@@ -16,196 +54,70 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_colors(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_active_workspace(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "active_workspace", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 3))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("active_workspace_border", config->current_bar->colors.active_workspace_border, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("active_workspace_bg", config->current_bar->colors.active_workspace_bg, argv[1]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("active_workspace_text", config->current_bar->colors.active_workspace_text, argv[2]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	char **colors[3] = {
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.active_workspace_border),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.active_workspace_bg),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.active_workspace_text)
+	};
+	return parse_three_colors(colors, "active_workspace", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_background(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "background", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("background", config->current_bar->colors.background, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	return parse_single_color(&(config->current_bar->colors.background), "background", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_focused_background(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "focused_background", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("focused_background", config->current_bar->colors.focused_background, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}else {
-		config->current_bar->colors.has_focused_background = true;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	return parse_single_color(&(config->current_bar->colors.focused_background), "focused_background", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_binding_mode(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "binding_mode", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 3))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("binding_mode_border", config->current_bar->colors.binding_mode_border, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	} else {
-		config->current_bar->colors.has_binding_mode_border = true;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("binding_mode_bg", config->current_bar->colors.binding_mode_bg, argv[1]))) {
-		return error;
-	} else {
-		config->current_bar->colors.has_binding_mode_bg = true;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("binding_mode_text", config->current_bar->colors.binding_mode_text, argv[2]))) {
-		return error;
-	} else {
-		config->current_bar->colors.has_binding_mode_text = true;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	char **colors[3] = {
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.binding_mode_border),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.binding_mode_bg),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.binding_mode_text)
+	};
+	return parse_three_colors(colors, "binding_mode", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_focused_workspace(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "focused_workspace", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 3))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("focused_workspace_border", config->current_bar->colors.focused_workspace_border, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("focused_workspace_bg", config->current_bar->colors.focused_workspace_bg, argv[1]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("focused_workspace_text", config->current_bar->colors.focused_workspace_text, argv[2]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	char **colors[3] = {
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.focused_workspace_border),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.focused_workspace_bg),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.focused_workspace_text)
+	};
+	return parse_three_colors(colors, "focused_workspace", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_inactive_workspace(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "inactive_workspace", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 3))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("inactive_workspace_border", config->current_bar->colors.inactive_workspace_border, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("inactive_workspace_bg", config->current_bar->colors.inactive_workspace_bg, argv[1]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("inactive_workspace_text", config->current_bar->colors.inactive_workspace_text, argv[2]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	char **colors[3] = {
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.inactive_workspace_border),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.inactive_workspace_bg),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.inactive_workspace_text)
+	};
+	return parse_three_colors(colors, "inactive_workspace", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_separator(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "separator", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("separator", config->current_bar->colors.separator, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	return parse_single_color(&(config->current_bar->colors.separator), "separator", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_focused_separator(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "focused_separator", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("focused_separator", config->current_bar->colors.focused_separator, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	} else {
-		config->current_bar->colors.has_focused_separator = true;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	return parse_single_color(&(config->current_bar->colors.focused_separator), "focused_separator", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_statusline(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "statusline", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("statusline", config->current_bar->colors.statusline, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	return parse_single_color(&(config->current_bar->colors.statusline), "statusline", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_focused_statusline(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "focused_statusline", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("focused_statusline", config->current_bar->colors.focused_statusline, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	} else {
-		config->current_bar->colors.has_focused_statusline = true;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	return parse_single_color(&(config->current_bar->colors.focused_separator), "focused_separator", argc, argv);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_colors_cmd_urgent_workspace(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "urgent_workspace", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 3))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("urgent_workspace_border", config->current_bar->colors.urgent_workspace_border, argv[0]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("urgent_workspace_bg", config->current_bar->colors.urgent_workspace_bg, argv[1]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	if ((error = add_color("urgent_workspace_text", config->current_bar->colors.urgent_workspace_text, argv[2]))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	char **colors[3] = {
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.urgent_workspace_border),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.urgent_workspace_bg),
+		&(config->current_bar->colors.urgent_workspace_text)
+	};
+	return parse_three_colors(colors, "urgent_workspace", argc, argv);
 }
diff --git a/sway/config.c b/sway/config.c
index 6d4cf2ffd..d790afa2f 100644
--- a/sway/config.c
+++ b/sway/config.c
@@ -70,6 +70,28 @@ static void free_bar(struct bar_config *bar) {
 		terminate_swaybar(bar->pid);
 	}
 
+	free(bar->colors.background);
+	free(bar->colors.statusline);
+	free(bar->colors.separator);
+	free(bar->colors.focused_background);
+	free(bar->colors.focused_statusline);
+	free(bar->colors.focused_separator);
+	free(bar->colors.focused_workspace_border);
+	free(bar->colors.focused_workspace_bg);
+	free(bar->colors.focused_workspace_text);
+	free(bar->colors.active_workspace_border);
+	free(bar->colors.active_workspace_bg);
+	free(bar->colors.active_workspace_text);
+	free(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_border);
+	free(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_bg);
+	free(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_text);
+	free(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_border);
+	free(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_bg);
+	free(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_text);
+	free(bar->colors.binding_mode_border);
+	free(bar->colors.binding_mode_bg);
+	free(bar->colors.binding_mode_text);
+
 	free(bar);
 }
 
@@ -1109,6 +1131,12 @@ struct sway_binding *sway_binding_dup(struct sway_binding *sb) {
 	return new_sb;
 }
 
+static void set_bar_color(char **name, char *value) {
+	// every color has 9 characters plus \0
+	*name = malloc(10);
+	strcpy(*name, value);
+}
+
 struct bar_config *default_bar_config(void) {
 	struct bar_config *bar = NULL;
 	bar = malloc(sizeof(struct bar_config));
@@ -1132,24 +1160,28 @@ struct bar_config *default_bar_config(void) {
 	bar->verbose = false;
 	bar->pid = 0;
 	// set default colors
-	strcpy(bar->colors.background, "#000000ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.statusline, "#ffffffff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.separator, "#666666ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.focused_workspace_border, "#4c7899ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.focused_workspace_bg, "#285577ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.focused_workspace_text, "#ffffffff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.active_workspace_border, "#333333ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.active_workspace_bg, "#5f676aff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.active_workspace_text, "#ffffffff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_border, "#333333ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_bg,"#222222ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_text, "#888888ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_border, "#2f343aff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_bg,"#900000ff");
-	strcpy(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_text, "#ffffffff");
-	bar->colors.has_binding_mode_border = false;
-	bar->colors.has_binding_mode_bg = false;
-	bar->colors.has_binding_mode_text = false;
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.background), "#000000ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.statusline), "#ffffffff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.separator), "#666666ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.focused_workspace_border), "#4c7899ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.focused_workspace_bg), "#285577ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.focused_workspace_text), "#ffffffff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.active_workspace_border), "#333333ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.active_workspace_bg), "#5f676aff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.active_workspace_text), "#ffffffff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_border), "#333333ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_bg),"#222222ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.inactive_workspace_text), "#888888ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_border), "#2f343aff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_bg),"#900000ff");
+	set_bar_color(&(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_text), "#ffffffff");
+
+	bar->colors.focused_background = NULL;
+	bar->colors.focused_statusline = NULL;
+	bar->colors.focused_separator = NULL;
+	bar->colors.binding_mode_border = NULL;
+	bar->colors.binding_mode_bg = NULL;
+	bar->colors.binding_mode_text = NULL;
 
 	list_add(config->bars, bar);
 
diff --git a/sway/ipc-json.c b/sway/ipc-json.c
index c21d28af4..e65e9de35 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-json.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-json.c
@@ -312,19 +312,19 @@ json_object *ipc_json_describe_bar_config(struct bar_config *bar) {
 	json_object_object_add(colors, "statusline", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.statusline));
 	json_object_object_add(colors, "separator", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.separator));
 
-	if (bar->colors.has_focused_background) {
+	if (bar->colors.focused_background) {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "focused_background", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.focused_background));
 	} else {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "focused_background", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.background));
 	}
 
-	if (bar->colors.has_focused_statusline) {
+	if (bar->colors.focused_statusline) {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "focused_statusline", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.focused_statusline));
 	} else {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "focused_statusline", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.statusline));
 	}
 
-	if (bar->colors.has_focused_separator) {
+	if (bar->colors.focused_separator) {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "focused_separator", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.focused_separator));
 	} else {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "focused_separator", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.separator));
@@ -346,19 +346,19 @@ json_object *ipc_json_describe_bar_config(struct bar_config *bar) {
 	json_object_object_add(colors, "urgent_workspace_bg", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_bg));
 	json_object_object_add(colors, "urgent_workspace_text", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_text));
 
-	if (bar->colors.has_binding_mode_border) {
+	if (bar->colors.binding_mode_border) {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "binding_mode_border", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.binding_mode_border));
 	} else {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "binding_mode_border", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_border));
 	}
 
-	if (bar->colors.has_binding_mode_bg) {
+	if (bar->colors.binding_mode_bg) {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "binding_mode_bg", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.binding_mode_bg));
 	} else {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "binding_mode_bg", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_bg));
 	}
 
-	if (bar->colors.has_binding_mode_text) {
+	if (bar->colors.binding_mode_text) {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "binding_mode_text", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.binding_mode_text));
 	} else {
 		json_object_object_add(colors, "binding_mode_text", json_object_new_string(bar->colors.urgent_workspace_text));