diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d4d4809..82ff620 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ CHANGELOG
 - **Unreleased**
   - Switch to the `caxlsx` gem (Community Axlsx) from the legacy unmaintained `axlsx` gem. Axlsx has had a long history of being poorly maintained so this community gem improves the situation.
   - Require Ruby 2.3+
-  - Add options `:freeze` and `:freeze_headers` for XLSX spreadsheets
+  - Ensure all options using Hash are automatically converted to symbol only hashes
+  - Add XLSX option `:freeze` to freeze custom sections of your spreadsheet
+  - Add XLSX option `:freeze_headers` to freeze the headers of your spreadsheet
 - **3.3.1**
   - [Issue #30](https://github.com/westonganger/spreadsheet_architect/issues/30) - Fix duplicate constant warning for XLSX_COLUMN_TYPES
 - **3.3.0**
diff --git a/lib/spreadsheet_architect/class_methods/xlsx.rb b/lib/spreadsheet_architect/class_methods/xlsx.rb
index 75116c6..de1409c 100644
--- a/lib/spreadsheet_architect/class_methods/xlsx.rb
+++ b/lib/spreadsheet_architect/class_methods/xlsx.rb
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ def to_axlsx_package(opts={}, package=nil)
           sheet.add_row row_data, style: styles, types: types
 
           if options[:conditional_row_styles]
+            options[:conditional_row_styles] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.hash_array_symbolize_keys(options[:conditional_row_styles])
+
             conditional_styles_for_row = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils::XLSX.conditional_styles_for_row(options[:conditional_row_styles], row_index, row_data)
             
             unless conditional_styles_for_row.empty?
@@ -127,6 +129,8 @@ def to_axlsx_package(opts={}, package=nil)
         end
 
         if options[:borders]
+          options[:borders] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.hash_array_symbolize_keys(options[:borders])
+
           options[:borders].each do |x|
             if x[:range].is_a?(Hash)
               x[:range] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils::XLSX.range_hash_to_str(x[:range], max_row_length, num_rows)
@@ -139,6 +143,8 @@ def to_axlsx_package(opts={}, package=nil)
         end
 
         if options[:column_styles]
+          options[:column_styles] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.hash_array_symbolize_keys(options[:column_styles])
+
           options[:column_styles].each do |x|
             start_row = (options[:headers] ? options[:headers].count : 0) + 1
 
@@ -170,6 +176,8 @@ def to_axlsx_package(opts={}, package=nil)
         end
 
         if options[:range_styles]
+          options[:range_styles] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.hash_array_symbolize_keys(options[:range_styles])
+
           options[:range_styles].each do |x|
             styles = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils::XLSX.convert_styles_to_axlsx(x[:styles])
 
@@ -184,6 +192,8 @@ def to_axlsx_package(opts={}, package=nil)
         end
 
         if options[:merges]
+          options[:merges] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.hash_array_symbolize_keys(options[:merges])
+
           options[:merges].each do |x|
             if x[:range].is_a?(Hash)
               x[:range] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils::XLSX.range_hash_to_str(x[:range], max_row_length, num_rows)
@@ -195,38 +205,41 @@ def to_axlsx_package(opts={}, package=nil)
           end
         end
 
-
         if options[:freeze_headers]
           sheet.sheet_view.pane do |pane|
-            pane.top_left_cell = "A1"
-            pane.state = :frozen_split
-            pane.active_pane = :bottom_right
+            pane.state = :frozen
             pane.y_split = options[:headers].count
           end
+
         elsif options[:freeze]
+          options[:freeze] = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.symbolize_keys(options[:freeze])
+
           sheet.sheet_view.pane do |pane|
-            pane.state = :frozen_split
-            pane.active_pane = :bottom_right
-
-            if !options[:freeze][:columns] || options[:freeze][:columns] == :all
-              freeze_cell = "A"
-            elsif options[:freeze][:columns].is_a?(Range)
-              freeze_cell = "#{SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils::XLSX::COL_NAMES[options[:freeze][:columns].first]}"
-              pane.y_split = options[:freeze][:columns].count
+            pane.state = :frozen
+
+            ### Currently not working
+            #if options[:freeze][:active_pane]
+            #  Axlsx.validate_pane_type(options[:freeze][:active_pane])
+            #  pane.active_pane = options[:freeze][:active_pane]
+            #else
+            #  pane.active_pane = :bottom_right
+            #end
+
+            if !options[:freeze][:rows]
+              raise SpreadsheetArchitect::Exceptions::ArgumentError.new("The :rows key must be specified in the :freeze option hash")
+            elsif options[:freeze][:rows].is_a?(Range)
+              pane.y_split = options[:freeze][:rows].count
             else
-              freeze_cell = "#{SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils::XLSX::COL_NAMES[options[:freeze][:columns]]}"
               pane.y_split = 1
             end
 
-            if options[:freeze][:rows].is_a?(Range)
-              freeze_cell += "#{options[:freeze][:rows].first}"
-              pane.x_split = options[:freeze][:rows].count
-            else
-              freeze_cell += "#{options[:freeze][:rows]}"
-              pane.x_split = 1
+            if options[:freeze][:columns] && options[:freeze][:columns] != :all
+              if options[:freeze][:columns].is_a?(Range)
+                pane.x_split = options[:freeze][:columns].count
+              else
+                pane.x_split = 1
+              end
             end
-
-            pane.top_left_cell = freeze_cell
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils.rb b/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils.rb
index 174a700..9742ef6 100644
--- a/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils.rb
+++ b/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils.rb
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ def self.check_option_type(options, option_name, type)
     end
 
     def self.verify_option_types(options)
+      options = self.symbolize_keys(options, shallow: true)
+
       check_option_type(options, :spreadsheet_columns, [Proc, Symbol, String])
       check_option_type(options, :data, Array)
       check_option_type(options, :instances, Array)
@@ -233,8 +235,9 @@ def self.verify_option_types(options)
       check_option_type(options, :freeze, Hash)
     end
 
-    def self.stringify_keys(hash={})
+    def self.stringify_keys(hash)
       new_hash = {}
+
       hash.each do |k,v|
         if v.is_a?(Hash)
           new_hash[k.to_s] = self.stringify_keys(v)
@@ -242,7 +245,33 @@ def self.stringify_keys(hash={})
           new_hash[k.to_s] = v
         end
       end
+
+      return new_hash
+    end
+
+    def self.symbolize_keys(hash, shallow: false)
+      new_hash = {}
+
+      hash.each do |k,v|
+        if v.is_a?(Hash)
+          new_hash[k.to_sym] = shallow ? v : self.symbolize_keys(v)
+        else
+          new_hash[k.to_sym] = v
+        end
+      end
+
       return new_hash
     end
+
+    def self.hash_array_symbolize_keys(array)
+      new_array = []
+
+      array.each_with_index do |x,i|
+        new_array[i] = x.is_a?(Hash) ? self.symbolize_keys(x) : x
+      end
+
+      return new_array
+    end
+
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils/xlsx.rb b/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils/xlsx.rb
index 5554b3f..673162d 100644
--- a/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils/xlsx.rb
+++ b/lib/spreadsheet_architect/utils/xlsx.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ def self.get_type(value, type=nil)
 
       def self.convert_styles_to_axlsx(styles={})
         styles = {} unless styles.is_a?(Hash)
-        styles = self.symbolize_keys(styles)
+
+        styles = SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.symbolize_keys(styles)
 
         if styles[:fg_color].nil? && styles[:color] && styles[:color].respond_to?(:sub) && !styles[:color].empty?
           styles[:fg_color] = styles.delete(:color).sub('#','')
@@ -176,18 +177,6 @@ def self.conditional_styles_for_row(conditional_row_styles, row_index, row_data)
 
       private
 
-      def self.symbolize_keys(hash={})
-        new_hash = {}
-        hash.each do |k, v|
-          if v.is_a?(Hash)
-            new_hash[k.to_sym] = self.symbolize_keys(v)
-          else
-            new_hash[k.to_sym] = v
-          end
-        end
-        new_hash
-      end
-
       ### Limit of 16384 columns as per Excel limitations
       COL_NAMES = Array('A'..'XFD').freeze
 
diff --git a/test/dummy_app/config/application.rb b/test/dummy_app/config/application.rb
index 3c3d2fb..2e1eb0f 100644
--- a/test/dummy_app/config/application.rb
+++ b/test/dummy_app/config/application.rb
@@ -3,10 +3,7 @@
 require 'rails/all'
 
 require 'axlsx'
-silence_warnings do
-  ### required until monkey patch in axlsx_styler is updated to Ruby 2.0 prepend syntax
-  require 'axlsx_styler'
-end
+require 'axlsx_styler'
 
 Bundler.require
 
diff --git a/test/unit/exceptions_test.rb b/test/unit/exceptions_test.rb
index b6f8883..697f15f 100644
--- a/test/unit/exceptions_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/exceptions_test.rb
@@ -23,11 +23,6 @@ class ExceptionsTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert_raise error do
       SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.get_options({freeze: {rows: 1}, freeze_headers: true}, SpreadsheetArchitect)
     end
-
-    assert_nothing_raised do
-      SpreadsheetArchitect.default_options = {freeze_headers: true}
-      SpreadsheetArchitect::Utils.get_options({freeze: {rows: 1}}, SpreadsheetArchitect)
-    end
   end
 
   test "NoDataError" do
diff --git a/test/unit/kitchen_sink_test.rb b/test/unit/kitchen_sink_test.rb
index 106f652..df751fc 100644
--- a/test/unit/kitchen_sink_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/kitchen_sink_test.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def teardown
   end
 
   def test_xlsx
-    @options.merge!({
+    opts = @options.merge({
       column_styles: [
         {columns: 0, styles: {bold: true}},
         {columns: (1..3), styles: {color: "444444"}},
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_xlsx
     })
 
     # Using Array Data
-    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_xlsx(@options)
+    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_xlsx(opts)
 
     File.open(VERSIONED_BASE_PATH.join("kitchen_sink.xlsx"),'w+b') do |f|
       f.write file_data
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def test_xlsx
   end
 
   def test_ods
-    @options.merge!({
+    opts = @options.merge({
       headers: [
         ['Latest Posts'],
         ['Title','Category','Author','Boolean','Posted on','Posted At']
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def test_ods
     })
 
     # Using Array Data
-    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_ods(@options)
+    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_ods(opts)
 
     File.open(VERSIONED_BASE_PATH.join("kitchen_sink.ods"),'w+b') do |f|
       f.write file_data
diff --git a/test/unit/utils_test.rb b/test/unit/utils_test.rb
index 545015f..4ddaa52 100644
--- a/test/unit/utils_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/utils_test.rb
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def teardown
   end
 
   test "stringify_keys" do
-    hash = klass.stringify_keys
+    hash = klass.stringify_keys({})
     assert_empty hash
 
     hash = klass.stringify_keys({foo: :bar})
@@ -176,4 +176,35 @@ def teardown
     assert_nil hash[:foo]
     assert_equal hash['foo']['foo']['foo']['foo'], :bar
   end
+
+  test "symbolize_keys" do
+    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({})
+    assert_empty hash
+
+    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => :bar})
+    assert_nil hash['foo']
+    assert_equal hash[:foo], :bar
+
+    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => :bar, bar: :foo})
+    assert_nil hash['foo']
+    assert_equal hash[:foo], :bar
+
+    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => {'foo' => :bar}})
+    assert_nil hash['foo']
+    assert_equal hash[:foo][:foo], :bar
+
+    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => {'foo' => {'foo' => :bar}}})
+    assert_nil hash['foo']
+    assert_equal hash[:foo][:foo][:foo], :bar
+  end
+
+  test "hash_array_symbolize_keys" do
+    array = klass.hash_array_symbolize_keys([])
+    assert_empty array
+
+    array = klass.hash_array_symbolize_keys([{'foo' => :bar}])
+    assert_nil array[0]['foo']
+    assert_equal array[0][:foo], :bar
+  end
+
 end
diff --git a/test/unit/xlsx_freeze_test.rb b/test/unit/xlsx_freeze_test.rb
index b566a9a..a39c722 100644
--- a/test/unit/xlsx_freeze_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/xlsx_freeze_test.rb
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ def teardown
   end
 
   def test_1
-    @options.merge!({
+    opts = @options.merge({
       freeze: {rows: 1, columns: 1},
     })
 
     # Using Array Data
-    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_xlsx(@options)
+    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_xlsx(opts)
 
     File.open(VERSIONED_BASE_PATH.join("freeze_test_1.xlsx"),'w+b') do |f|
       f.write file_data
@@ -29,42 +29,16 @@ def test_1
   end
 
   def test_2
-    @options.merge!({
+    opts = @options.merge({
       freeze: {rows: (2..4), columns: (2..4)},
     })
 
     # Using Array Data
-    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_xlsx(@options)
+    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_xlsx(opts)
 
     File.open(VERSIONED_BASE_PATH.join("freeze_test_2.xlsx"),'w+b') do |f|
       f.write file_data
     end
   end
 
-  def test_ods
-    @options.merge!({
-      headers: [
-        ['Latest Posts'],
-        ['Title','Category','Author','Boolean','Posted on','Posted At']
-      ],
-      data: 50.times.map{|i| [i, "foobar-#{i}", (5.4*i), true, Date.today, Time.now]},
-      column_types: [
-        :string,
-        :float,
-        :float, 
-        :boolean,
-        :date,
-        :time,
-        nil
-      ],
-    })
-
-    # Using Array Data
-    file_data = SpreadsheetArchitect.to_ods(@options)
-
-    File.open(VERSIONED_BASE_PATH.join("kitchen_sink.ods"),'w+b') do |f|
-      f.write file_data
-    end
-  end
-
 end
diff --git a/test/unit/xlsx_utils_test.rb b/test/unit/xlsx_utils_test.rb
index cce1f3b..4dfde12 100644
--- a/test/unit/xlsx_utils_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/xlsx_utils_test.rb
@@ -113,27 +113,6 @@ def teardown
     #end
   end
 
-  test "symbolize_keys" do
-    hash = klass.symbolize_keys
-    assert_empty hash
-
-    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => :bar})
-    assert_nil hash['foo']
-    assert_equal hash[:foo], :bar
-
-    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => :bar, bar: :foo})
-    assert_nil hash['foo']
-    assert_equal hash[:foo], :bar
-
-    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => {'foo' => :bar}})
-    assert_nil hash['foo']
-    assert_equal hash[:foo][:foo], :bar
-
-    hash = klass.symbolize_keys({'foo' => {'foo' => {'foo' => :bar}}})
-    assert_nil hash['foo']
-    assert_equal hash[:foo][:foo][:foo], :bar
-  end
-
   test "constants" do
     assert_equal klass::COL_NAMES.count, 16384
     assert_equal klass::COL_NAMES.first, 'A'