diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index 4bcf55e8d..5a58c07cb 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -148,6 +148,14 @@ struct bar_config {
 	} colors;
 };
 
+struct border_colors {
+	uint32_t border;
+	uint32_t background;
+	uint32_t text;
+	uint32_t indicator;
+	uint32_t child_border;
+};
+
 /**
  * The configuration struct. The result of loading a config file.
  */
@@ -187,6 +195,16 @@ struct sway_config {
 
 	list_t *config_chain;
 	const char *current_config;
+
+	// border colors
+	struct {
+		struct border_colors focused;
+		struct border_colors focused_inactive;
+		struct border_colors unfocused;
+		struct border_colors urgent;
+		struct border_colors placeholder;
+		uint32_t background;
+	} border_colors;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/sway/config.c b/sway/config.c
index a877261cb..4a1cb2bb5 100644
--- a/sway/config.c
+++ b/sway/config.c
@@ -181,6 +181,39 @@ static void config_defaults(struct sway_config *config) {
 
 	config->config_chain = create_list();
 	config->current_config = NULL;
+
+	// border colors
+	config->border_colors.focused.border = 0x4C7899FF;
+	config->border_colors.focused.background = 0x285577FF;
+	config->border_colors.focused.text = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+	config->border_colors.focused.indicator = 0x2E9EF4FF;
+	config->border_colors.focused.child_border = 0x285577FF;
+
+	config->border_colors.focused_inactive.border = 0x333333FF;
+	config->border_colors.focused_inactive.background = 0x5F676AFF;
+	config->border_colors.focused_inactive.text = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+	config->border_colors.focused_inactive.indicator = 0x484E50FF;
+	config->border_colors.focused_inactive.child_border = 0x5F676AFF;
+
+	config->border_colors.unfocused.border = 0x333333FF;
+	config->border_colors.unfocused.background = 0x222222FF;
+	config->border_colors.unfocused.text = 0x888888FF;
+	config->border_colors.unfocused.indicator = 0x292D2EFF;
+	config->border_colors.unfocused.child_border = 0x222222FF;
+
+	config->border_colors.urgent.border = 0x2F343AFF;
+	config->border_colors.urgent.background = 0x900000FF;
+	config->border_colors.urgent.text = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+	config->border_colors.urgent.indicator = 0x900000FF;
+	config->border_colors.urgent.child_border = 0x900000FF;
+
+	config->border_colors.placeholder.border = 0x000000FF;
+	config->border_colors.placeholder.background = 0x0C0C0CFF;
+	config->border_colors.placeholder.text = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+	config->border_colors.placeholder.indicator = 0x000000FF;
+	config->border_colors.placeholder.child_border = 0x0C0C0CFF;
+
+	config->border_colors.background = 0xFFFFFFFF;
 }
 
 static int compare_modifiers(const void *left, const void *right) {