diff --git a/config-verify.c b/config-verify.c
index 6dd8d7c..97ea8cf 100644
--- a/config-verify.c
+++ b/config-verify.c
@@ -416,6 +416,7 @@ conf_verify_bar(const struct yml_node *bar)
 
         {"border", false, &verify_bar_border},
         {"font", false, &conf_verify_font},
+        {"foreground", false, &conf_verify_color},
 
         {"left", false, &verify_module_list},
         {"center", false, &verify_module_list},
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index c38f8d6..3981e83 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "decorations/stack.h"
 #include "decorations/underline.h"
 
+#include "bar.h"
 #include "module.h"
 #include "config-verify.h"
 #include "plugin.h"
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ deco_from_config(const struct yml_node *node)
 
 static struct particle *
 particle_simple_list_from_config(const struct yml_node *node,
-                                 const struct font *parent_font)
+                                 struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     size_t count = yml_list_length(node);
     struct particle *parts[count];
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ particle_simple_list_from_config(const struct yml_node *node,
          it.node != NULL;
          yml_list_next(&it), idx++)
     {
-        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, parent_font);
+        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, inherited);
     }
 
     /* Lazy-loaded function pointer to particle_list_new() */
@@ -161,17 +162,16 @@ particle_simple_list_from_config(const struct yml_node *node,
     }
 
     struct particle *common = particle_common_new(
-        0, 0, NULL, font_clone(parent_font),
-        (struct rgba){1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0}, NULL);
+        0, 0, NULL, font_clone(inherited.font), inherited.foreground, NULL);
 
     return particle_list_new(common, parts, count, 0, 2);
 }
 
 struct particle *
-conf_to_particle(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+conf_to_particle(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     if (yml_is_list(node))
-        return particle_simple_list_from_config(node, parent_font);
+        return particle_simple_list_from_config(node, inherited);
 
     struct yml_dict_iter pair = yml_dict_iter(node);
     const char *type = yml_value_as_string(pair.key);
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ 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);
+        ? conf_to_font(font_node) : font_clone(inherited.font);
     struct rgba foreground = foreground_node != NULL
-        ? conf_to_color(foreground_node) : (struct rgba){1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0};
+        ? conf_to_color(foreground_node) : inherited.foreground;
     struct deco *deco = deco_node != NULL ? deco_from_config(deco_node) : NULL;
 
     struct particle *common = particle_common_new(
@@ -268,8 +268,15 @@ conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar)
             conf.border.color = conf_to_color(color);
     }
 
-    /* Create a default font */
+    /*
+     * Create a default font and foreground
+     *
+     * These aren't used by the bar itself, but passed down to modules
+     * and particles. This allows us to specify a default font and
+     * foreground color at top-level.
+     */
     struct font *font = font_new("sans");
+    struct rgba foreground = (struct rgba){1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0}; /* White */
 
     const struct yml_node *font_node = yml_get_value(bar, "font");
     if (font_node != NULL) {
@@ -277,6 +284,15 @@ conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar)
         font = conf_to_font(font_node);
     }
 
+    const struct yml_node *foreground_node = yml_get_value(bar, "foreground");
+    if (foreground_node != NULL)
+        foreground = conf_to_color(foreground_node);
+
+    struct conf_inherit inherited = {
+        .font = font,
+        .foreground = foreground,
+    };
+
     const struct yml_node *left = yml_get_value(bar, "left");
     const struct yml_node *center = yml_get_value(bar, "center");
     const struct yml_node *right = yml_get_value(bar, "right");
@@ -297,7 +313,7 @@ conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar)
                 const char *mod_name = yml_value_as_string(m.key);
 
                 const struct module_info *info = plugin_load_module(mod_name);
-                mods[idx] = info->from_conf(m.value, font);
+                mods[idx] = info->from_conf(m.value, inherited);
             }
 
             if (i == 0) {
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index 0bdbc09..3579877 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "bar.h"
 #include "font.h"
-#include "particle.h"
 #include "yml.h"
 
+struct bar;
+struct particle;
+
 bool conf_verify_bar(const struct yml_node *bar);
 struct bar *conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar);
 
@@ -15,5 +16,10 @@ struct bar *conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar);
 struct rgba conf_to_color(const struct yml_node *node);
 struct font *conf_to_font(const struct yml_node *node);
 
+struct conf_inherit {
+    const struct font *font;
+    struct rgba foreground;
+};
+
 struct particle * conf_to_particle(
-    const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font);
+    const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited);
diff --git a/module.h b/module.h
index 38bd48f..db0c6d6 100644
--- a/module.h
+++ b/module.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include <threads.h>
 #include <cairo.h>
 
-#include "config-verify.h"
+#include "config.h"
 #include "particle.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "yml.h"
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ struct module;
 struct module_info {
     bool (*verify_conf)(keychain_t *chain, const struct yml_node *node);
     struct module *(*from_conf)(const struct yml_node *node,
-                               const struct font *parent_font);
+                                struct conf_inherit inherited);
 };
 
 struct module_run_context {
diff --git a/modules/alsa.c b/modules/alsa.c
index ebb4343..01abd45 100644
--- a/modules/alsa.c
+++ b/modules/alsa.c
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ alsa_new(const char *card, const char *mixer, struct particle *label)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *card = yml_get_value(node, "card");
     const struct yml_node *mixer = yml_get_value(node, "mixer");
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
     return alsa_new(
         yml_value_as_string(card),
         yml_value_as_string(mixer),
-        conf_to_particle(content, parent_font));
+        conf_to_particle(content, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/modules/backlight.c b/modules/backlight.c
index 2df38ea..6582557 100644
--- a/modules/backlight.c
+++ b/modules/backlight.c
@@ -215,13 +215,13 @@ backlight_new(const char *device, struct particle *label)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *name = yml_get_value(node, "name");
     const struct yml_node *c = yml_get_value(node, "content");
 
     return backlight_new(
-        yml_value_as_string(name), conf_to_particle(c, parent_font));
+        yml_value_as_string(name), conf_to_particle(c, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/modules/battery.c b/modules/battery.c
index 600122c..7810ce6 100644
--- a/modules/battery.c
+++ b/modules/battery.c
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ battery_new(const char *battery, struct particle *label, int poll_interval_secs)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *c = yml_get_value(node, "content");
     const struct yml_node *name = yml_get_value(node, "name");
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
 
     return battery_new(
         yml_value_as_string(name),
-        conf_to_particle(c, parent_font),
+        conf_to_particle(c, inherited),
         poll_interval != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(poll_interval) : 60);
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/clock.c b/modules/clock.c
index c538b5a..d056c09 100644
--- a/modules/clock.c
+++ b/modules/clock.c
@@ -95,14 +95,14 @@ clock_new(struct particle *label, const char *date_format, const char *time_form
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *c = yml_get_value(node, "content");
     const struct yml_node *date_format = yml_get_value(node, "date-format");
     const struct yml_node *time_format = yml_get_value(node, "time-format");
 
     return clock_new(
-        conf_to_particle(c, parent_font),
+        conf_to_particle(c, inherited),
         date_format != NULL ? yml_value_as_string(date_format) : "%x",
         time_format != NULL ? yml_value_as_string(time_format) : "%H:%M");
 }
diff --git a/modules/i3.c b/modules/i3.c
index e71828c..3d55361 100644
--- a/modules/i3.c
+++ b/modules/i3.c
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ i3_new(struct i3_workspaces workspaces[], size_t workspace_count,
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *c = yml_get_value(node, "content");
     const struct yml_node *spacing = yml_get_value(node, "spacing");
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
          yml_dict_next(&it), idx++)
     {
         workspaces[idx].name = yml_value_as_string(it.key);
-        workspaces[idx].content = conf_to_particle(it.value, parent_font);
+        workspaces[idx].content = conf_to_particle(it.value, inherited);
     }
 
     return i3_new(workspaces, yml_dict_length(c), left, right);
diff --git a/modules/label.c b/modules/label.c
index 1f5a46a..669443c 100644
--- a/modules/label.c
+++ b/modules/label.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <poll.h>
 
 #include "../config.h"
+#include "../module.h"
 
 struct private {
     struct particle *label;
@@ -47,10 +48,10 @@ label_new(struct particle *label)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *c = yml_get_value(node, "content");
-    return label_new(conf_to_particle(c, parent_font));
+    return label_new(conf_to_particle(c, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/modules/mpd.c b/modules/mpd.c
index c6472de..ae0986a 100644
--- a/modules/mpd.c
+++ b/modules/mpd.c
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ mpd_new(const char *host, uint16_t port, struct particle *label)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *host = yml_get_value(node, "host");
     const struct yml_node *port = yml_get_value(node, "port");
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
     return mpd_new(
         yml_value_as_string(host),
         port != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(port) : 0,
-        conf_to_particle(c, parent_font));
+        conf_to_particle(c, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/modules/network.c b/modules/network.c
index 7df8233..7a526f3 100644
--- a/modules/network.c
+++ b/modules/network.c
@@ -534,13 +534,13 @@ network_new(const char *iface, struct particle *label)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *name = yml_get_value(node, "name");
     const struct yml_node *content = yml_get_value(node, "content");
 
     return network_new(
-        yml_value_as_string(name), conf_to_particle(content, parent_font));
+        yml_value_as_string(name), conf_to_particle(content, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/modules/removables.c b/modules/removables.c
index a788541..c251264 100644
--- a/modules/removables.c
+++ b/modules/removables.c
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ removables_new(struct particle *label, int left_spacing, int right_spacing)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *content = yml_get_value(node, "content");
     const struct yml_node *spacing = yml_get_value(node, "spacing");
@@ -573,8 +573,7 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
     int right = spacing != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(spacing) :
         right_spacing != NULL ? yml_value_as_int(right_spacing) : 0;
 
-    return removables_new(
-        conf_to_particle(content, parent_font), left, right);
+    return removables_new(conf_to_particle(content, inherited), left, right);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/modules/xkb.c b/modules/xkb.c
index a373801..ee7edf5 100644
--- a/modules/xkb.c
+++ b/modules/xkb.c
@@ -453,10 +453,10 @@ xkb_new(struct particle *label)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *c = yml_get_value(node, "content");
-    return xkb_new(conf_to_particle(c, parent_font));
+    return xkb_new(conf_to_particle(c, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/modules/xwindow.c b/modules/xwindow.c
index c91908d..3dc2cd8 100644
--- a/modules/xwindow.c
+++ b/modules/xwindow.c
@@ -315,10 +315,10 @@ xwindow_new(struct particle *label)
 }
 
 static struct module *
-from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, const struct font *parent_font)
+from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 {
     const struct yml_node *c = yml_get_value(node, "content");
-    return xwindow_new(conf_to_particle(c, parent_font));
+    return xwindow_new(conf_to_particle(c, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/particle.h b/particle.h
index 7518374..0d46b88 100644
--- a/particle.h
+++ b/particle.h
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ 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, struct particle *common);
+    struct particle *(*from_conf)(
+        const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common);
 
 #define PARTICLE_COMMON_ATTRS_COUNT 5
 #define PARTICLE_COMMON_ATTRS                      \
diff --git a/particles/list.c b/particles/list.c
index 10da4b4..f0980b7 100644
--- a/particles/list.c
+++ b/particles/list.c
@@ -183,7 +183,8 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
          it.node != NULL;
          yml_list_next(&it), idx++)
     {
-        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, common->font);
+        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(
+            it.node, (struct conf_inherit){common->font, common->foreground});
     }
 
     return particle_list_new(common, parts, count, left_spacing, right_spacing);
diff --git a/particles/map.c b/particles/map.c
index e9bf03b..0b4c0bf 100644
--- a/particles/map.c
+++ b/particles/map.c
@@ -205,17 +205,22 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
 
     struct particle_map particle_map[yml_dict_length(values)];
 
+    struct conf_inherit inherited = {
+        .font = common->font,
+        .foreground = common->foreground
+    };
+
     size_t idx = 0;
     for (struct yml_dict_iter it = yml_dict_iter(values);
          it.key != NULL;
          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, common->font);
+        particle_map[idx].particle = conf_to_particle(it.value, inherited);
     }
 
     struct particle *default_particle = def != NULL
-        ? conf_to_particle(def, common->font) : NULL;
+        ? conf_to_particle(def, inherited) : NULL;
 
     return map_new(
         common, yml_value_as_string(tag), particle_map, yml_dict_length(values),
diff --git a/particles/progress-bar.c b/particles/progress-bar.c
index 169592a..e69a1c4 100644
--- a/particles/progress-bar.c
+++ b/particles/progress-bar.c
@@ -239,15 +239,20 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
     const struct yml_node *empty = yml_get_value(node, "empty");
     const struct yml_node *indicator = yml_get_value(node, "indicator");
 
+    struct conf_inherit inherited = {
+        .font = common->font,
+        .foreground = common->foreground,
+    };
+
     return progress_bar_new(
         common,
         yml_value_as_string(tag),
         yml_value_as_int(length),
-        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));
+        conf_to_particle(start, inherited),
+        conf_to_particle(end, inherited),
+        conf_to_particle(fill, inherited),
+        conf_to_particle(empty, inherited),
+        conf_to_particle(indicator, inherited));
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/particles/ramp.c b/particles/ramp.c
index 3d912ed..a17f716 100644
--- a/particles/ramp.c
+++ b/particles/ramp.c
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@ from_conf(const struct yml_node *node, struct particle *common)
          it.node != NULL;
          yml_list_next(&it), idx++)
     {
-        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(it.node, common->font);
+        parts[idx] = conf_to_particle(
+            it.node, (struct conf_inherit){common->font, common->foreground});
     }
 
     return ramp_new(common, yml_value_as_string(tag), parts, count);