diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 1ccc026..c38f8d6 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -149,17 +149,22 @@ particle_simple_list_from_config(const struct yml_node *node,
 
     /* Lazy-loaded function pointer to particle_list_new() */
     static struct particle *(*particle_list_new)(
+        struct particle *common,
         struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
-        int left_spacing, int right_spacing, int left_margin, int right_margin,
-        const char *on_click_template) = NULL;
+        int left_spacing, int right_spacing) = NULL;
 
     if (particle_list_new == NULL) {
         const struct plugin *plug = plugin_load("list", PLUGIN_PARTICLE);
+
         particle_list_new = dlsym(plug->lib, "particle_list_new");
         assert(particle_list_new != NULL);
     }
 
-    return particle_list_new(parts, count, 0, 2, 0, 0, NULL);
+    struct particle *common = particle_common_new(
+        0, 0, NULL, font_clone(parent_font),
+        (struct rgba){1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0}, NULL);
+
+    return particle_list_new(common, parts, count, 0, 2);
 }
 
 struct particle *
@@ -175,6 +180,9 @@ conf_to_particle(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
     const struct yml_node *left_margin = yml_get_value(pair.value, "left-margin");
     const struct yml_node *right_margin = yml_get_value(pair.value, "right-margin");
     const struct yml_node *on_click = yml_get_value(pair.value, "on-click");
+    const struct yml_node *font_node = yml_get_value(pair.value, "font");
+    const struct yml_node *foreground_node = yml_get_value(pair.value, "foreground");
+    const struct yml_node *deco_node = yml_get_value(pair.value, "deco");
 
     int left = margin != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(margin) :
         left_margin != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(left_margin) : 0;
@@ -183,19 +191,19 @@ conf_to_particle(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
 
     const char *on_click_template
         = on_click != NULL ? yml_value_as_string(on_click) : NULL;
+    struct font *font = font_node != NULL
+        ? conf_to_font(font_node) : font_clone(parent_font);
+    struct rgba foreground = foreground_node != NULL
+        ? conf_to_color(foreground_node) : (struct rgba){1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0};
+    struct deco *deco = deco_node != NULL ? deco_from_config(deco_node) : NULL;
+
+    struct particle *common = particle_common_new(
+        left, right, on_click_template, font, foreground, deco);
 
     const struct particle_info *info = plugin_load_particle(type);
     assert(info != NULL);
 
-    struct particle *ret = info->from_conf(
-        pair.value, parent_font, left, right, on_click_template);
-
-    const struct yml_node *deco_node = yml_get_value(pair.value, "deco");
-
-    if (deco_node != NULL)
-        ret->deco = deco_from_config(deco_node);
-
-    return ret;
+    return info->from_conf(pair.value, common);
 }
 
 struct bar *
diff --git a/particle.c b/particle.c
index 514740b..0c926bc 100644
--- a/particle.c
+++ b/particle.c
@@ -17,19 +17,25 @@ particle_default_destroy(struct particle *particle)
 {
     if (particle->deco != NULL)
         particle->deco->destroy(particle->deco);
+    font_destroy(particle->font);
     free(particle->on_click_template);
     free(particle);
 }
 
 struct particle *
 particle_common_new(int left_margin, int right_margin,
-                    const char *on_click_template)
+                    const char *on_click_template,
+                    struct font *font, struct rgba foreground,
+                    struct deco *deco)
 {
     struct particle *p = malloc(sizeof(*p));
     p->left_margin = left_margin;
     p->right_margin = right_margin;
-    p->on_click_template = on_click_template != NULL ? strdup(on_click_template) : NULL;
-    p->deco = NULL;
+    p->on_click_template =
+        on_click_template != NULL ? strdup(on_click_template) : NULL;
+    p->foreground = foreground;
+    p->font = font;
+    p->deco = deco;
     return p;
 }
 
diff --git a/particle.h b/particle.h
index f867578..7518374 100644
--- a/particle.h
+++ b/particle.h
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-
 #include <cairo.h>
 
 #include "color.h"
@@ -15,10 +14,7 @@ struct exposable;
 
 struct particle_info {
     bool (*verify_conf)(keychain_t *chain, const struct yml_node *node);
-    struct particle *(*from_conf)(const struct yml_node *node,
-                                  const struct font *parent_font,
-                                  int left_margin, int right_margin,
-                                  const char *on_click_template);
+    struct particle *(*from_conf)(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common);
 
 #define PARTICLE_COMMON_ATTRS_COUNT 5
 #define PARTICLE_COMMON_ATTRS                      \
@@ -26,6 +22,8 @@ struct particle_info {
     {"left-margin", false, &conf_verify_int},      \
     {"right-margin", false, &conf_verify_int},     \
     {"on-click", false, &conf_verify_string},      \
+    {"font", false, &conf_verify_font},            \
+    {"foreground", false, &conf_verify_color},     \
     {"deco", false, &conf_verify_decoration},      \
     {NULL, false, NULL}
 
@@ -35,9 +33,12 @@ struct particle {
     void *private;
 
     int left_margin, right_margin;
-    struct deco *deco;
     char *on_click_template;
 
+    struct rgba foreground;
+    struct font *font;
+    struct deco *deco;
+
     void (*destroy)(struct particle *particle);
     struct exposable *(*instantiate)(const struct particle *particle,
                                      const struct tag_set *tags);
@@ -64,8 +65,10 @@ struct exposable {
                      enum mouse_event event, int x, int y);
 };
 
-struct particle *particle_common_new(int left_margin, int right_margin,
-                                     const char *on_click_template);
+struct particle *particle_common_new(
+    int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template,
+    struct font *font, struct rgba foreground, struct deco *deco);
+
 void particle_default_destroy(struct particle *particle);
 
 struct exposable *exposable_common_new(
diff --git a/particles/empty.c b/particles/empty.c
index dde25d0..12151f3 100644
--- a/particles/empty.c
+++ b/particles/empty.c
@@ -32,20 +32,17 @@ instantiate(const struct particle *particle, const struct tag_set *tags)
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-empty_new(int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+empty_new(struct particle *common)
 {
-    struct particle *particle = particle_common_new(
-        left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
-    particle->destroy = &particle_default_destroy;
-    particle->instantiate = &instantiate;
-    return particle;
+    common->destroy = &particle_default_destroy;
+    common->instantiate = &instantiate;
+    return common;
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
-          int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
 {
-    return empty_new(left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
+    return empty_new(common);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/particles/list.c b/particles/list.c
index fadac6f..10da4b4 100644
--- a/particles/list.c
+++ b/particles/list.c
@@ -143,10 +143,9 @@ particle_destroy(struct particle *particle)
 }
 
 struct particle *
-particle_list_new(
-    struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
-    int left_spacing, int right_spacing, int left_margin, int right_margin,
-    const char *on_click_template)
+particle_list_new(struct particle *common,
+                  struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
+                  int left_spacing, int right_spacing)
 {
     struct private *p = malloc(sizeof(*p));
     p->particles = malloc(count * sizeof(p->particles[0]));
@@ -157,22 +156,16 @@ particle_list_new(
     for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++)
         p->particles[i] = particles[i];
 
-    struct particle *particle = particle_common_new(
-        left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
-
-    particle->private = p;
-    particle->destroy = &particle_destroy;
-    particle->instantiate = &instantiate;
-
-    return particle;
+    common->private = p;
+    common->destroy = &particle_destroy;
+    common->instantiate = &instantiate;
+    return common;
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
-          int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
 {
     const struct yml_node *items = yml_get_value(node, "items");
-
     const struct yml_node *spacing = yml_get_value(node, "spacing");
     const struct yml_node *_left_spacing = yml_get_value(node, "left-spacing");
     const struct yml_node *_right_spacing = yml_get_value(node, "right-spacing");
@@ -190,12 +183,10 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
          it.node != NULL;
          yml_list_next(&it), idx++)
     {
-        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, parent_font);
+        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, common->font);
     }
 
-    return particle_list_new(
-        parts, count, left_spacing, right_spacing, left_margin, right_margin,
-        on_click_template);
+    return particle_list_new(common, parts, count, left_spacing, right_spacing);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/particles/list.h b/particles/list.h
index 01dabb4..3ac9768 100644
--- a/particles/list.h
+++ b/particles/list.h
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 #include "../particle.h"
 
 struct particle *particle_list_new(
+    struct particle *common,
     struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
-    int left_spacing, int right_spacing, int left_margin, int right_margin,
-    const char *on_click_template);
+    int left_spacing, int right_spacing);
 
 extern const struct particle_info particle_list;
diff --git a/particles/map.c b/particles/map.c
index fda5a02..e9bf03b 100644
--- a/particles/map.c
+++ b/particles/map.c
@@ -146,16 +146,10 @@ particle_destroy(struct particle *particle)
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-map_new(const char *tag, const struct particle_map *particle_map,
-        size_t count, struct particle *default_particle,
-        int left_margin, int right_margin,
-        const char *on_click_template)
+map_new(struct particle *common, const char *tag,
+        const struct particle_map particle_map[], size_t count,
+        struct particle *default_particle)
 {
-    struct particle *particle = particle_common_new(
-        left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
-    particle->destroy = &particle_destroy;
-    particle->instantiate = &instantiate;
-
     struct private *priv = malloc(sizeof(*priv));
     priv->tag = strdup(tag);
     priv->default_particle = default_particle;
@@ -167,8 +161,10 @@ map_new(const char *tag, const struct particle_map *particle_map,
         priv->map[i].particle = particle_map[i].particle;
     }
 
-    particle->private = priv;
-    return particle;
+    common->private = priv;
+    common->destroy = &particle_destroy;
+    common->instantiate = &instantiate;
+    return common;
 }
 
 static bool
@@ -201,8 +197,7 @@ verify_map_values(keychain_t *chain, const struct yml_node *node)
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
-          int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
 {
     const struct yml_node *tag = yml_get_value(node, "tag");
     const struct yml_node *values = yml_get_value(node, "values");
@@ -216,16 +211,15 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
          yml_dict_next(&it), idx++)
     {
         particle_map[idx].tag_value = yml_value_as_string(it.key);
-        particle_map[idx].particle = conf_to_particle(it.value, parent_font);
+        particle_map[idx].particle = conf_to_particle(it.value, common->font);
     }
 
     struct particle *default_particle = def != NULL
-        ? conf_to_particle(def, parent_font)
-        : NULL;
+        ? conf_to_particle(def, common->font) : NULL;
 
     return map_new(
-        yml_value_as_string(tag), particle_map, yml_dict_length(values),
-        default_particle, left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
+        common, yml_value_as_string(tag), particle_map, yml_dict_length(values),
+        default_particle);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/particles/progress-bar.c b/particles/progress-bar.c
index 2f110fd..169592a 100644
--- a/particles/progress-bar.c
+++ b/particles/progress-bar.c
@@ -208,13 +208,10 @@ instantiate(const struct particle *particle, const struct tag_set *tags)
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-progress_bar_new(const char *tag, int width,
-                 struct particle *start_marker,
-                 struct particle *end_marker,
+progress_bar_new(struct particle *common, const char *tag, int width,
+                 struct particle *start_marker, struct particle *end_marker,
                  struct particle *fill, struct particle *empty,
-                 struct particle *indicator,
-                 int left_margin, int right_margin,
-                 const char *on_click_template)
+                 struct particle *indicator)
 {
     struct private *priv = malloc(sizeof(*priv));
     priv->tag = strdup(tag);
@@ -225,18 +222,14 @@ progress_bar_new(const char *tag, int width,
     priv->empty = empty;
     priv->indicator = indicator;
 
-    struct particle *particle = particle_common_new(
-        left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
-    particle->private = priv;
-    particle->destroy = &particle_destroy;
-    particle->instantiate = &instantiate;
-
-    return particle;
+    common->private = priv;
+    common->destroy = &particle_destroy;
+    common->instantiate = &instantiate;
+    return common;
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
-          int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
 {
     const struct yml_node *tag = yml_get_value(node, "tag");
     const struct yml_node *length = yml_get_value(node, "length");
@@ -247,14 +240,14 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
     const struct yml_node *indicator = yml_get_value(node, "indicator");
 
     return progress_bar_new(
+        common,
         yml_value_as_string(tag),
         yml_value_as_int(length),
-        conf_to_particle(start, parent_font),
-        conf_to_particle(end, parent_font),
-        conf_to_particle(fill, parent_font),
-        conf_to_particle(empty, parent_font),
-        conf_to_particle(indicator, parent_font),
-        left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
+        conf_to_particle(start, common->font),
+        conf_to_particle(end, common->font),
+        conf_to_particle(fill, common->font),
+        conf_to_particle(empty, common->font),
+        conf_to_particle(indicator, common->font));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/particles/ramp.c b/particles/ramp.c
index e7ecaf3..3d912ed 100644
--- a/particles/ramp.c
+++ b/particles/ramp.c
@@ -135,13 +135,9 @@ instantiate(const struct particle *particle, const struct tag_set *tags)
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-ramp_new(const char *tag, struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
-         int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+ramp_new(struct particle *common, const char *tag,
+         struct particle *particles[], size_t count)
 {
-    struct particle *particle = particle_common_new(
-        left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
-    particle->destroy = &particle_destroy;
-    particle->instantiate = &instantiate;
 
     struct private *priv = malloc(sizeof(*priv));
     priv->tag = strdup(tag);
@@ -151,13 +147,14 @@ ramp_new(const char *tag, struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
     for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++)
         priv->particles[i] = particles[i];
 
-    particle->private = priv;
-    return particle;
+    common->private = priv;
+    common->destroy = &particle_destroy;
+    common->instantiate = &instantiate;
+    return common;
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
-          int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
 {
     const struct yml_node *tag = yml_get_value(node, "tag");
     const struct yml_node *items = yml_get_value(node, "items");
@@ -170,12 +167,10 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
          it.node != NULL;
          yml_list_next(&it), idx++)
     {
-        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, parent_font);
+        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, common->font);
     }
 
-    return ramp_new(
-        yml_value_as_string(tag), parts, count, left_margin, right_margin,
-        on_click_template);
+    return ramp_new(common, yml_value_as_string(tag), parts, count);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/particles/string.c b/particles/string.c
index b008805..152ca57 100644
--- a/particles/string.c
+++ b/particles/string.c
@@ -12,17 +12,10 @@
 struct private {
     char *text;
     size_t max_len;
-
-    struct font *font;
-    struct rgba foreground;
 };
 
 struct eprivate {
     char *text;
-
-    const struct font *font;
-    struct rgba foreground;
-
     cairo_text_extents_t extents;
 };
 
@@ -40,7 +33,7 @@ begin_expose(struct exposable *exposable)
 {
     struct eprivate *e = exposable->private;
 
-    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled = font_scaled_font(e->font);
+    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled = font_scaled_font(exposable->particle->font);
     cairo_scaled_font_text_extents(scaled, e->text, &e->extents);
 
     exposable->width = (exposable->particle->left_margin +
@@ -58,7 +51,7 @@ expose(const struct exposable *exposable, cairo_t *cr, int x, int y, int height)
     const struct eprivate *e = exposable->private;
     const size_t text_len = strlen(e->text);
 
-    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled = font_scaled_font(e->font);
+    cairo_scaled_font_t *scaled = font_scaled_font(exposable->particle->font);
 
     cairo_glyph_t *glyphs = NULL;
     cairo_text_cluster_t *clusters = NULL;
@@ -73,10 +66,10 @@ expose(const struct exposable *exposable, cairo_t *cr, int x, int y, int height)
 
     cairo_set_scaled_font(cr, scaled);
     cairo_set_source_rgba(cr,
-                          e->foreground.red,
-                          e->foreground.green,
-                          e->foreground.blue,
-                          e->foreground.alpha);
+                          exposable->particle->foreground.red,
+                          exposable->particle->foreground.green,
+                          exposable->particle->foreground.blue,
+                          exposable->particle->foreground.alpha);
     cairo_set_operator(cr, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
 
     cairo_show_text_glyphs(
@@ -94,8 +87,6 @@ instantiate(const struct particle *particle, const struct tag_set *tags)
     struct eprivate *e = malloc(sizeof(*e));
 
     e->text = tags_expand_template(p->text, tags);
-    e->font = p->font;
-    e->foreground = p->foreground;
     memset(&e->extents, 0, sizeof(e->extents));
 
     if (p->max_len > 0) {
@@ -125,50 +116,34 @@ static void
 particle_destroy(struct particle *particle)
 {
     struct private *p = particle->private;
-    font_destroy(p->font);
     free(p->text);
     free(p);
     particle_default_destroy(particle);
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-string_new(const char *text, size_t max_len, struct font *font,
-           struct rgba foreground, int left_margin, int right_margin,
-           const char *on_click_template)
+string_new(struct particle *common, const char *text, size_t max_len)
 {
     struct private *p = malloc(sizeof(*p));
     p->text = strdup(text);
     p->max_len = max_len;
-    p->font = font;
-    p->foreground = foreground;
 
-    struct particle *particle = particle_common_new(
-        left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
-
-    particle->private = p;
-    particle->destroy = &particle_destroy;
-    particle->instantiate = &instantiate;
-
-    return particle;
+    common->private = p;
+    common->destroy = &particle_destroy;
+    common->instantiate = &instantiate;
+    return common;
 }
 
 static struct particle *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font,
-          int left_margin, int right_margin, const char *on_click_template)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
 {
     const struct yml_node *text = yml_get_value(node, "text");
     const struct yml_node *max = yml_get_value(node, "max");
-    const struct yml_node *font = yml_get_value(node, "font");
-    const struct yml_node *foreground = yml_get_value(node, "foreground");
-
-    struct rgba fg_color = foreground != NULL
-        ? conf_to_color(foreground) : (struct rgba){1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0};
 
     return string_new(
+        common,
         yml_value_as_string(text),
-        max != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(max) : 0,
-        font != NULL ? conf_to_font(font) : font_clone(parent_font),
-        fg_color, left_margin, right_margin, on_click_template);
+        max != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(max) : 0);
 }
 
 static bool
@@ -177,8 +152,6 @@ verify_conf(keychain_t *chain, const struct yml_node *node)
     static const struct attr_info attrs[] = {
         {"text", true, &conf_verify_string},
         {"max", false, &conf_verify_int},
-        {"font", false, &conf_verify_font},
-        {"foreground", false, &conf_verify_color},
         PARTICLE_COMMON_ATTRS,
     };