diff --git a/niri-config/src/lib.rs b/niri-config/src/lib.rs
index 70dc3909..4587483c 100644
--- a/niri-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/niri-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -281,8 +281,8 @@ pub struct Mode {
 pub struct Layout {
     #[knuffel(child, default)]
     pub focus_ring: FocusRing,
-    #[knuffel(child, default = FocusRing::default_border())]
-    pub border: FocusRing,
+    #[knuffel(child, default)]
+    pub border: Border,
     #[knuffel(child, unwrap(children), default)]
     pub preset_column_widths: Vec<PresetWidth>,
     #[knuffel(child)]
@@ -305,11 +305,11 @@ pub struct SpawnAtStartup {
 pub struct FocusRing {
     #[knuffel(child)]
     pub off: bool,
-    #[knuffel(child, unwrap(argument), default = 4)]
+    #[knuffel(child, unwrap(argument), default = Self::default().width)]
     pub width: u16,
-    #[knuffel(child, default = Color::new(127, 200, 255, 255))]
+    #[knuffel(child, default = Self::default().active_color)]
     pub active_color: Color,
-    #[knuffel(child, default = Color::new(80, 80, 80, 255))]
+    #[knuffel(child, default = Self::default().inactive_color)]
     pub inactive_color: Color,
 }
 
@@ -324,9 +324,21 @@ impl Default for FocusRing {
     }
 }
 
-impl FocusRing {
-    pub const fn default_border() -> FocusRing {
-        FocusRing {
+#[derive(knuffel::Decode, Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
+pub struct Border {
+    #[knuffel(child)]
+    pub off: bool,
+    #[knuffel(child, unwrap(argument), default = Self::default().width)]
+    pub width: u16,
+    #[knuffel(child, default = Self::default().active_color)]
+    pub active_color: Color,
+    #[knuffel(child, default = Self::default().inactive_color)]
+    pub inactive_color: Color,
+}
+
+impl Default for Border {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
             off: true,
             width: 4,
             active_color: Color::new(255, 200, 127, 255),
@@ -335,6 +347,17 @@ impl FocusRing {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<Border> for FocusRing {
+    fn from(value: Border) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            off: value.off,
+            width: value.width,
+            active_color: value.active_color,
+            inactive_color: value.inactive_color,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(knuffel::Decode, Debug, Default, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct Color {
     #[knuffel(argument)]
@@ -881,7 +904,6 @@ mod tests {
 
                 border {
                     width 3
-                    active-color 0 100 200 255
                     inactive-color 255 200 100 0
                 }
 
@@ -1005,13 +1027,13 @@ mod tests {
                             a: 0,
                         },
                     },
-                    border: FocusRing {
+                    border: Border {
                         off: false,
                         width: 3,
                         active_color: Color {
-                            r: 0,
-                            g: 100,
-                            b: 200,
+                            r: 255,
+                            g: 200,
+                            b: 127,
                             a: 255,
                         },
                         inactive_color: Color {
diff --git a/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/layout.rs b/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/layout.rs
index b12b6745..0bb5f332 100644
--- a/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/layout.rs
+++ b/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/layout.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ impl Layout {
                 off: true,
                 ..Default::default()
             },
-            border: niri_config::FocusRing {
+            border: niri_config::Border {
                 off: false,
                 width: 4,
                 active_color: Color::new(255, 163, 72, 255),
diff --git a/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/tile.rs b/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/tile.rs
index e3fa8fb1..ff0af227 100644
--- a/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/tile.rs
+++ b/niri-visual-tests/src/cases/tile.rs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ impl Tile {
                 off: true,
                 ..Default::default()
             },
-            border: niri_config::FocusRing {
+            border: niri_config::Border {
                 off: false,
                 width: 32,
                 active_color: Color::new(255, 163, 72, 255),
diff --git a/src/layout/mod.rs b/src/layout/mod.rs
index 9443093f..dfc7ee0a 100644
--- a/src/layout/mod.rs
+++ b/src/layout/mod.rs
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ pub struct Options {
     /// Extra padding around the working area in logical pixels.
     pub struts: Struts,
     pub focus_ring: niri_config::FocusRing,
-    pub border: niri_config::FocusRing,
+    pub border: niri_config::Border,
     pub center_focused_column: CenterFocusedColumn,
     /// Column widths that `toggle_width()` switches between.
     pub preset_widths: Vec<ColumnWidth>,
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ impl Default for Options {
             gaps: 16,
             struts: Default::default(),
             focus_ring: Default::default(),
-            border: niri_config::FocusRing::default_border(),
+            border: Default::default(),
             center_focused_column: Default::default(),
             preset_widths: vec![
                 ColumnWidth::Proportion(1. / 3.),
@@ -2818,12 +2818,25 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    prop_compose! {
+        fn arbitrary_border()(
+            off in any::<bool>(),
+            width in arbitrary_spacing(),
+        ) -> niri_config::Border {
+            niri_config::Border {
+                off,
+                width,
+                ..Default::default()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     prop_compose! {
         fn arbitrary_options()(
             gaps in arbitrary_spacing(),
             struts in arbitrary_struts(),
             focus_ring in arbitrary_focus_ring(),
-            border in arbitrary_focus_ring(),
+            border in arbitrary_border(),
             center_focused_column in arbitrary_center_focused_column(),
         ) -> Options {
             Options {
diff --git a/src/layout/tile.rs b/src/layout/tile.rs
index 62f79a77..54c38d15 100644
--- a/src/layout/tile.rs
+++ b/src/layout/tile.rs
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl<W: LayoutElement> Tile<W> {
     pub fn new(window: W, options: Rc<Options>) -> Self {
         Self {
             window,
-            border: FocusRing::new(options.border),
+            border: FocusRing::new(options.border.into()),
             focus_ring: FocusRing::new(options.focus_ring),
             is_fullscreen: false, // FIXME: up-to-date fullscreen right away, but we need size.
             fullscreen_backdrop: SolidColorBuffer::new((0, 0), [0., 0., 0., 1.]),
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ impl<W: LayoutElement> Tile<W> {
     }
 
     pub fn update_config(&mut self, options: Rc<Options>) {
-        self.border.update_config(options.border);
+        self.border.update_config(options.border.into());
         self.focus_ring.update_config(options.focus_ring);
         self.options = options;
     }