diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index a78486d7..a8bb31de 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -52,12 +52,14 @@ add_executable(tomato
 	./sdl_clipboard_utils.hpp
 	./sdl_clipboard_utils.cpp
 
+	./chat_gui/theme.hpp
+	./chat_gui/theme.cpp
+	./chat_gui/contact_list.hpp
+	./chat_gui/contact_list.cpp
 	./chat_gui/file_selector.hpp
 	./chat_gui/file_selector.cpp
-
 	./chat_gui/send_image_popup.hpp
 	./chat_gui/send_image_popup.cpp
-
 	./chat_gui/settings_window.hpp
 	./chat_gui/settings_window.cpp
 
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/contact_list.cpp b/src/chat_gui/contact_list.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a90632ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/chat_gui/contact_list.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+#include "./contact_list.hpp"
+
+#include <solanaceae/contact/components.hpp>
+
+#include <imgui/imgui.h>
+//#include <imgui/imgui_internal.h>
+
+bool renderContactBig(
+	const Theme& th,
+	ContactTextureCache& contact_tc,
+	const Contact3Handle c,
+	const bool unread,
+	const bool selectable,
+	const bool selected
+) {
+	// we dont need ### bc there is no named prefix
+	auto label = "##" + std::to_string(entt::to_integral(c.entity()));
+
+	const bool request_incoming = c.all_of<Contact::Components::RequestIncoming>();
+	const bool request_outgoing = c.all_of<Contact::Components::TagRequestOutgoing>();
+
+	ImVec2 orig_curser_pos = ImGui::GetCursorPos();
+	// HACK: fake selected to make it draw a box for us
+	const bool show_selected = request_incoming || request_outgoing || selected;
+	if (request_incoming) {
+		ImGui::PushStyleColor(
+			ImGuiCol_Header,
+			th.getColor<ThemeCol_Contact::request_incoming>()
+		);
+	} else if (request_outgoing) {
+		ImGui::PushStyleColor(
+			ImGuiCol_Header,
+			th.getColor<ThemeCol_Contact::request_outgoing>()
+		);
+	}
+
+	const float TEXT_BASE_HEIGHT = ImGui::GetTextLineHeightWithSpacing();
+
+	bool got_selected = false;
+	if (selectable) {
+		got_selected = ImGui::Selectable(label.c_str(), show_selected, ImGuiSelectableFlags_None, {0, 3*TEXT_BASE_HEIGHT});
+	} else {
+		got_selected = ImGui::InvisibleButton(label.c_str(), {-FLT_MIN, 3*TEXT_BASE_HEIGHT});
+	}
+
+	if (request_incoming || request_outgoing) {
+		ImGui::PopStyleColor();
+	}
+
+	if (ImGui::BeginItemTooltip()) {
+		if (c.all_of<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>()) {
+			const auto cstate = c.get<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>().state;
+			ImGui::Text("Connection state: %s",
+				(cstate == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::disconnected)
+				? "offline"
+				: (cstate == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::direct)
+				? "online (direct)"
+				: "online (cloud)"
+			);
+		} else {
+			ImGui::TextUnformatted("Connection state: unknown");
+		}
+
+		ImGui::EndTooltip();
+	}
+
+	ImVec2 post_curser_pos = ImGui::GetCursorPos();
+
+	ImVec2 img_curser {
+		orig_curser_pos.x + ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.x,
+		orig_curser_pos.y + ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.y
+	};
+
+	float img_y {
+		//(post_curser_pos.y - orig_curser_pos.y) - ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.y*2
+		TEXT_BASE_HEIGHT*3 - ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.y*2
+	};
+
+	ImGui::SetCursorPos(img_curser);
+
+	// TODO: refactor out avatar (with online state overlay)
+
+	ImVec4 color_current = th.getColor<ThemeCol_Contact::avatar_offline>();
+	if (c.all_of<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>()) {
+		const auto c_state = c.get<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>().state;
+		if (c_state == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::State::direct) {
+			color_current = th.getColor<ThemeCol_Contact::avatar_online_direct>();
+		} else if (c_state == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::State::cloud) {
+			color_current = th.getColor<ThemeCol_Contact::avatar_online_cloud>();
+		}
+	}
+
+	// avatar
+	const auto [id, width, height] = contact_tc.get(c);
+	ImGui::Image(
+		id,
+		ImVec2{img_y, img_y},
+		{0, 0},
+		{1, 1},
+		{1, 1, 1, 1},
+		color_current
+	);
+
+	ImGui::SameLine();
+	ImGui::BeginGroup();
+	{
+		// TODO: is there a better way?
+		// maybe cache mm?
+		//bool has_unread = false;
+#if 0
+		if (const auto* mm = _rmm.get(c); mm != nullptr) {
+			if (const auto* unread_storage = mm->storage<Message::Components::TagUnread>(); unread_storage != nullptr && !unread_storage->empty()) {
+#if 0
+				assert(unread_storage.size() == 0);
+				assert(unread_storage.cbegin() == unread_storage.cend());
+				std::cout << "UNREAD ";
+				for (const auto e : mm->view<Message::Components::TagUnread>()) {
+					std::cout << entt::to_integral(e) << " ";
+				}
+				std::cout << "\n";
+#endif
+				has_unread = true;
+			}
+		}
+#endif
+
+		ImGui::Text("%s%s", unread?"* ":"", (c.all_of<Contact::Components::Name>() ? c.get<Contact::Components::Name>().name.c_str() : "<unk>"));
+
+		if (request_incoming) {
+			ImGui::TextUnformatted("Incoming request/invite");
+		} else if (request_outgoing) {
+			ImGui::TextUnformatted("Outgoing request/invite");
+		} else {
+			//ImGui::Text("status message...");
+		}
+		//constexpr std::string_view test_text{"text"};
+		//ImGui::RenderTextEllipsis(ImGui::GetWindowDrawList(), ImVec2{}, ImVec2{}, 1.f, 1.f, test_text.data(), test_text.data()+test_text.size(), nullptr);
+	}
+	ImGui::EndGroup();
+
+	ImGui::SetCursorPos(post_curser_pos);
+
+	return got_selected;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/contact_list.hpp b/src/chat_gui/contact_list.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7f425721
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/chat_gui/contact_list.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "./texture_cache_defs.hpp"
+
+#include "./theme.hpp"
+
+#include <solanaceae/contact/contact_model3.hpp>
+
+enum class ThemeCol_Contact {
+	request_incoming,
+	request_outgoing,
+
+	avatar_online_direct,
+	avatar_online_cloud,
+	avatar_offline,
+};
+
+// returns true if clicked, if selectable, will highlight on hover and respect selected
+// TODO: refine
+// +------+
+// |	  | *Name (Alias?)
+// |Avatar| Satus Message <-- richpresence interface?
+// |	  | user status (online/away/busy)-direct/relayed / offline <-- last text?
+// +------+
+bool renderContactBig(
+	const Theme& th,
+	ContactTextureCache& contact_tc,
+	const Contact3Handle c,
+	const bool unread = false,
+	const bool selectable = false,
+	const bool selected = false
+);
+
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/texture_cache_defs.hpp b/src/chat_gui/texture_cache_defs.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e3797b4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/chat_gui/texture_cache_defs.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <solanaceae/message3/registry_message_model.hpp>
+
+#include "../texture_cache.hpp"
+#include "../tox_avatar_loader.hpp"
+#include "../message_image_loader.hpp"
+
+
+using ContactTextureCache = TextureCache<void*, Contact3, ToxAvatarLoader>;
+using MessageTextureCache = TextureCache<void*, Message3Handle, MessageImageLoader>;
+
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/theme.cpp b/src/chat_gui/theme.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d202d602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/chat_gui/theme.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#include "./theme.hpp"
+
+// HACK: includes everything and sets theme defaults
+#include "./contact_list.hpp"
+
+//#include <iostream>
+
+//enum class TestThemeSet {
+	//Value1,
+//};
+
+//// specialization
+////template<>
+////std::string typeValueName(TestThemeSet v) {
+	////switch (v) {
+		////case TestThemeSet::Value1: return "Value1";
+		////default: return "unk";
+	////}
+////}
+
+Theme::Theme(void) {
+	load();
+}
+
+void Theme::update(void) {
+}
+
+bool Theme::load(void) {
+	name = "Default";
+
+	//setColor<TestThemeSet::Value1>(ImVec4{});
+	//std::cout << "test value name: " << getColorName<TestThemeSet::Value1>() << "\n";
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+bool Theme::store(void) {
+	return true;
+}
+
+Theme getDefaultThemeDark(void) {
+	Theme t;
+
+	t.setColor<ThemeCol_Contact::request_incoming>({0.98f, 0.41f, 0.26f, 0.52f});
+	t.setColor<ThemeCol_Contact::request_outgoing>({0.98f, 0.26f, 0.41f, 0.52f});
+
+	t.setColor<ThemeCol_Contact::avatar_online_direct>({0.3, 1, 0, 1});
+	t.setColor<ThemeCol_Contact::avatar_online_cloud>({0, 1, 0.8, 1});
+	t.setColor<ThemeCol_Contact::avatar_offline>({0.4, 0.4, 0.4, 1});
+
+	return t;
+}
+
+Theme getDefaultThemeLight(void) {
+	// HACK: inherit dark and only diff
+	Theme t = getDefaultThemeDark();
+
+	return t;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/chat_gui/theme.hpp b/src/chat_gui/theme.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e3dc9642
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/chat_gui/theme.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <imgui/imgui.h>
+
+#include <entt/container/dense_map.hpp>
+#include <entt/core/type_info.hpp>
+
+#include <string>
+#include <type_traits>
+
+// default is resolving to its value
+template<typename T>
+std::string typeValueName(T V) {
+	return std::to_string(static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<T>>(V));
+}
+
+// stores theming values and colors not expressed by imgui directly
+struct Theme {
+	using key_type = entt::id_type;
+
+	entt::dense_map<key_type, ImVec4> colors;
+	entt::dense_map<key_type, std::string> colors_name;
+
+	// TODO: spec out dependencies
+
+	// TODO: what for
+	entt::dense_map<key_type, float> single_values;
+
+	std::string name; // theme name
+
+	Theme(void);
+
+	// call when any color changed, so dependencies can be resolved
+	void update(void);
+
+	template<auto V>
+	void setColor(ImVec4 color) {
+		constexpr auto key = entt::type_hash<entt::tag<V>>::value();
+		colors[key] = color;
+
+		if (!colors_name.contains(key)) {
+			std::string key_name = static_cast<std::string>(
+				entt::type_name<decltype(V)>::value()
+			) + ":" + typeValueName(V);
+			colors_name[key] = key_name;
+		}
+	}
+	template<auto V>
+	ImVec4 getColor(void) const {
+		constexpr auto key = entt::type_hash<entt::tag<V>>::value();
+		const auto it = colors.find(key);
+		if (it != colors.end()) {
+			return it->second;
+		} else {
+			return {}; // TODO: pink as default?
+		}
+	}
+
+	template<auto V>
+	std::string_view getColorName(void) const {
+		constexpr auto key = entt::type_hash<entt::tag<V>>::value();
+		if (colors_name.contains(key)) {
+			return colors_name.at(key);
+		} else {
+			return "unk";
+		}
+	}
+
+	// TODO: actually serialize from config?
+	bool load(void);
+	bool store(void);
+};
+
+Theme getDefaultThemeDark(void);
+Theme getDefaultThemeLight(void);
+
diff --git a/src/chat_gui4.cpp b/src/chat_gui4.cpp
index e2714518..bb5f2493 100644
--- a/src/chat_gui4.cpp
+++ b/src/chat_gui4.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 #include <SDL3/SDL.h>
 
+#include "./chat_gui/contact_list.hpp"
+
 #include "./media_meta_info_loader.hpp"
 #include "./sdl_clipboard_utils.hpp"
 
@@ -143,8 +145,9 @@ ChatGui4::ChatGui4(
 	Contact3Registry& cr,
 	TextureUploaderI& tu,
 	ContactTextureCache& contact_tc,
-	MessageTextureCache& msg_tc
-) : _conf(conf), _rmm(rmm), _cr(cr), _contact_tc(contact_tc), _msg_tc(msg_tc), _sip(tu) {
+	MessageTextureCache& msg_tc,
+	Theme& theme
+) : _conf(conf), _rmm(rmm), _cr(cr), _contact_tc(contact_tc), _msg_tc(msg_tc), _theme(theme), _sip(tu) {
 }
 
 ChatGui4::~ChatGui4(void) {
@@ -197,7 +200,31 @@ float ChatGui4::render(float time_delta) {
 
 			const bool highlight_private {!_cr.all_of<Contact::Components::TagPrivate>(*_selected_contact)};
 
-			if (ImGui::BeginChild(chat_label.c_str(), {0, 0}, true)) {
+			if (ImGui::BeginChild(chat_label.c_str(), {0, 0}, ImGuiChildFlags_Border, ImGuiWindowFlags_MenuBar)) {
+				if (ImGui::BeginMenuBar()) {
+					if (ImGui::BeginMenu("debug")) {
+						ImGui::Checkbox("show extra info", &_show_chat_extra_info);
+						ImGui::Checkbox("show avatar transfers", &_show_chat_avatar_tf);
+
+						ImGui::SeparatorText("tox");
+
+						// TODO: cheese it and rename to copy id?
+						if (_cr.all_of<Contact::Components::ToxGroupPersistent>(*_selected_contact)) {
+							if (ImGui::MenuItem("copy ngc chatid")) {
+								const auto& chat_id = _cr.get<Contact::Components::ToxGroupPersistent>(*_selected_contact).chat_id.data;
+								const auto chat_id_str = bin2hex(std::vector<uint8_t>{chat_id.begin(), chat_id.end()});
+								ImGui::SetClipboardText(chat_id_str.c_str());
+							}
+						}
+
+						ImGui::EndMenu();
+					}
+					ImGui::EndMenuBar();
+				}
+
+				renderContactBig(_theme, _contact_tc, {_cr, *_selected_contact}, false, false, false);
+				ImGui::Separator();
+
 				if (sub_contacts != nullptr && !_cr.all_of<Contact::Components::TagPrivate>(*_selected_contact) && _cr.all_of<Contact::Components::TagGroup>(*_selected_contact)) {
 					if (!sub_contacts->empty()) {
 						if (ImGui::BeginChild("subcontacts", {150, -100}, true)) {
@@ -256,27 +283,11 @@ float ChatGui4::render(float time_delta) {
 					ImGui::EndChild();
 				}
 
-				if (ImGui::BeginChild("message_log", {0, -100}, false, ImGuiWindowFlags_MenuBar)) {
-					if (ImGui::BeginMenuBar()) {
-						if (ImGui::BeginMenu("debug")) {
-							ImGui::Checkbox("show extra info", &_show_chat_extra_info);
-							ImGui::Checkbox("show avatar transfers", &_show_chat_avatar_tf);
-
-							ImGui::SeparatorText("tox");
-
-							// TODO: cheese it and rename to copy id?
-							if (_cr.all_of<Contact::Components::ToxGroupPersistent>(*_selected_contact)) {
-								if (ImGui::MenuItem("copy ngc chatid")) {
-									const auto& chat_id = _cr.get<Contact::Components::ToxGroupPersistent>(*_selected_contact).chat_id.data;
-									const auto chat_id_str = bin2hex(std::vector<uint8_t>{chat_id.begin(), chat_id.end()});
-									ImGui::SetClipboardText(chat_id_str.c_str());
-								}
-							}
-
-							ImGui::EndMenu();
-						}
-						ImGui::EndMenuBar();
-					}
+				if (ImGui::BeginChild("message_log", {0, -100}, ImGuiChildFlags_None)) {
+					// TODO: background image?
+					//auto p_min = ImGui::GetCursorScreenPos();
+					//auto a_max = ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail();
+					//ImGui::GetWindowDrawList()->AddImage(0, p_min, {p_min.x+a_max.x, p_min.y+a_max.y});
 
 					auto* msg_reg_ptr = _rmm.get(*_selected_contact);
 
@@ -1075,7 +1086,18 @@ void ChatGui4::renderContactList(void) {
 	if (ImGui::BeginChild("contacts", {TEXT_BASE_WIDTH*35, 0})) {
 		//for (const auto& c : _cm.getBigContacts()) {
 		for (const auto& c : _cr.view<Contact::Components::TagBig>()) {
-			if (renderContactListContactBig(c, _selected_contact.has_value() && *_selected_contact == c)) {
+			const bool selected = _selected_contact.has_value() && *_selected_contact == c;
+
+			// TODO: is there a better way?
+			// maybe cache mm?
+			bool has_unread = false;
+			if (const auto* mm = _rmm.get(c); mm != nullptr) {
+				if (const auto* unread_storage = mm->storage<Message::Components::TagUnread>(); unread_storage != nullptr && !unread_storage->empty()) {
+					has_unread = true;
+				}
+			}
+
+			if (renderContactBig(_theme, _contact_tc, {_cr, c}, has_unread, true, selected)) {
 				_selected_contact = c;
 			}
 		}
@@ -1083,139 +1105,6 @@ void ChatGui4::renderContactList(void) {
 	ImGui::EndChild();
 }
 
-bool ChatGui4::renderContactListContactBig(const Contact3 c, const bool selected) {
-	// TODO:
-	// - unread message
-	// - connection status
-	// - user status
-	// - status message
-	// - context menu n shit?
-
-	// +------+
-	// |	  | *Name (Alias?)
-	// |Avatar| Satus Message
-	// |	  | user status (online/away/busy)-direct/relayed / offline
-	// +------+
-
-	auto label = "###" + std::to_string(entt::to_integral(c));
-
-	const bool request_incoming = _cr.all_of<Contact::Components::RequestIncoming>(c);
-	const bool request_outgoing = _cr.all_of<Contact::Components::TagRequestOutgoing>(c);
-
-	ImVec2 orig_curser_pos = ImGui::GetCursorPos();
-	// HACK: fake selected to make it draw a box for us
-	const bool show_selected = request_incoming || request_outgoing || selected;
-	if (request_incoming) {
-		// TODO: theming
-		ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_Header, {0.98f, 0.41f, 0.26f, 0.52f});
-	} else if (request_outgoing) {
-		// TODO: theming
-		ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_Header, {0.98f, 0.26f, 0.41f, 0.52f});
-	}
-
-	const bool got_selected = ImGui::Selectable(label.c_str(), show_selected, 0, {0,3*TEXT_BASE_HEIGHT});
-	if (request_incoming || request_outgoing) {
-		ImGui::PopStyleColor();
-	}
-
-	if (ImGui::BeginItemTooltip()) {
-		if (_cr.all_of<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>(c)) {
-			const auto cstate = _cr.get<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>(c).state;
-			ImGui::Text("Connection state: %s",
-				(cstate == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::disconnected)
-				? "offline"
-				: (cstate == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::direct)
-				? "online (direct)"
-				: "online (cloud)"
-			);
-		} else {
-			ImGui::TextUnformatted("Connection state: unknown");
-		}
-
-		ImGui::EndTooltip();
-	}
-
-	ImVec2 post_curser_pos = ImGui::GetCursorPos();
-
-	ImVec2 img_curser {
-		orig_curser_pos.x + ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.x,
-		orig_curser_pos.y + ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.y
-	};
-
-	float img_y {
-		//(post_curser_pos.y - orig_curser_pos.y) - ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.y*2
-		TEXT_BASE_HEIGHT*3 - ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.y*2
-	};
-
-	ImGui::SetCursorPos(img_curser);
-	const ImVec4 color_online_direct{0.3, 1, 0, 1};
-	const ImVec4 color_online_cloud{0, 1, 0.8, 1};
-	const ImVec4 color_offline{0.4, 0.4, 0.4, 1};
-
-	ImVec4 color_current = color_offline;
-	if (_cr.all_of<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>(c)) {
-		const auto c_state = _cr.get<Contact::Components::ConnectionState>(c).state;
-		if (c_state == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::State::direct) {
-			color_current = color_online_direct;
-		} else if (c_state == Contact::Components::ConnectionState::State::cloud) {
-			color_current = color_online_cloud;
-		}
-	}
-
-	// avatar
-	const auto [id, width, height] = _contact_tc.get(c);
-	ImGui::Image(
-		id,
-		ImVec2{img_y, img_y},
-		{0, 0},
-		{1, 1},
-		{1, 1, 1, 1},
-		color_current
-	);
-
-	// TODO: move this out of chat gui
-	any_unread = false;
-
-	ImGui::SameLine();
-	ImGui::BeginGroup();
-	{
-		// TODO: is there a better way?
-		// maybe cache mm?
-		bool has_unread = false;
-		if (const auto* mm = _rmm.get(c); mm != nullptr) {
-			if (const auto* unread_storage = mm->storage<Message::Components::TagUnread>(); unread_storage != nullptr && !unread_storage->empty()) {
-#if 0
-				assert(unread_storage.size() == 0);
-				assert(unread_storage.cbegin() == unread_storage.cend());
-				std::cout << "UNREAD ";
-				for (const auto e : mm->view<Message::Components::TagUnread>()) {
-					std::cout << entt::to_integral(e) << " ";
-				}
-				std::cout << "\n";
-#endif
-				has_unread = true;
-				any_unread = true;
-			}
-		}
-
-		ImGui::Text("%s%s", has_unread?"* ":"", (_cr.all_of<Contact::Components::Name>(c) ? _cr.get<Contact::Components::Name>(c).name.c_str() : "<unk>"));
-		if (request_incoming) {
-			ImGui::TextUnformatted("Incoming request/invite");
-		} else if (request_outgoing) {
-			ImGui::TextUnformatted("Outgoing request/invite");
-		} else {
-			//ImGui::Text("status message...");
-		}
-		//ImGui::TextDisabled("hi");
-		//ImGui::RenderTextEllipsis
-	}
-	ImGui::EndGroup();
-
-	ImGui::SetCursorPos(post_curser_pos);
-
-	return got_selected;
-}
-
 bool ChatGui4::renderContactListContactSmall(const Contact3 c, const bool selected) const {
 	std::string label;
 
diff --git a/src/chat_gui4.hpp b/src/chat_gui4.hpp
index 645c6929..a694e5a4 100644
--- a/src/chat_gui4.hpp
+++ b/src/chat_gui4.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #include <solanaceae/message3/registry_message_model.hpp>
 #include <solanaceae/util/config_model.hpp>
 
+#include "./chat_gui/theme.hpp"
+
 #include "./texture_uploader.hpp"
 #include "./texture_cache.hpp"
 #include "./tox_avatar_loader.hpp"
@@ -29,6 +31,8 @@ class ChatGui4 {
 	ContactTextureCache& _contact_tc;
 	MessageTextureCache& _msg_tc;
 
+	Theme& _theme;
+
 	FileSelector _fss;
 	SendImagePopup _sip;
 
@@ -57,7 +61,8 @@ class ChatGui4 {
 			Contact3Registry& cr,
 			TextureUploaderI& tu,
 			ContactTextureCache& contact_tc,
-			MessageTextureCache& msg_tc
+			MessageTextureCache& msg_tc,
+			Theme& theme
 		);
 		~ChatGui4(void);
 
@@ -65,8 +70,6 @@ class ChatGui4 {
 		float render(float time_delta);
 
 	public:
-		bool any_unread {false};
-
 		void sendFilePath(const char* file_path);
 
 	private:
@@ -75,7 +78,6 @@ class ChatGui4 {
 		void renderMessageExtra(Message3Registry& reg, const Message3 e);
 
 		void renderContactList(void);
-		bool renderContactListContactBig(const Contact3 c, const bool selected);
 		bool renderContactListContactSmall(const Contact3 c, const bool selected) const;
 		bool renderSubContactListContact(const Contact3 c, const bool selected) const;
 
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index fc5acc39..47794906 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <imgui/backends/imgui_impl_sdlrenderer3.h>
 
 #include "./theme.hpp"
+#include "./chat_gui/theme.hpp"
 
 #include "./start_screen.hpp"
 
@@ -58,11 +59,14 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 	IMGUI_CHECKVERSION();
 	ImGui::CreateContext();
 
+	Theme theme;
 	if (SDL_GetSystemTheme() == SDL_SYSTEM_THEME_LIGHT) {
 		ImGui::StyleColorsLight();
+		theme = getDefaultThemeLight();
 	} else {
 		//ImGui::StyleColorsDark();
 		setThemeGreen();
+		theme = getDefaultThemeDark();
 	}
 
 	{
@@ -85,7 +89,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 	ImGui_ImplSDL3_InitForSDLRenderer(window.get(), renderer.get());
 	ImGui_ImplSDLRenderer3_Init(renderer.get());
 
-	std::unique_ptr<Screen> screen = std::make_unique<StartScreen>(renderer.get());
+	std::unique_ptr<Screen> screen = std::make_unique<StartScreen>(renderer.get(), theme);
 
 
 	bool quit = false;
diff --git a/src/main_screen.cpp b/src/main_screen.cpp
index 6f99b0ea..c932ffcd 100644
--- a/src/main_screen.cpp
+++ b/src/main_screen.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <cmath>
 
-MainScreen::MainScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer_, std::string save_path, std::string save_password, std::string new_username, std::vector<std::string> plugins) :
+MainScreen::MainScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer_, Theme& theme_, std::string save_path, std::string save_password, std::string new_username, std::vector<std::string> plugins) :
 	renderer(renderer_),
 	rmm(cr),
 	msnj{cr, {}, {}},
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ MainScreen::MainScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer_, std::string save_path, std::stri
 	tmm(rmm, cr, tcm, tc, tc),
 	ttm(rmm, cr, tcm, tc, tc),
 	tffom(cr, rmm, tcm, tc, tc),
+	theme(theme_),
 	mmil(rmm),
 	tam(rmm, cr, conf),
 	sdlrtu(renderer_),
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ MainScreen::MainScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer_, std::string save_path, std::stri
 	contact_tc(tal, sdlrtu),
 	mil(),
 	msg_tc(mil, sdlrtu),
-	cg(conf, rmm, cr, sdlrtu, contact_tc, msg_tc),
+	cg(conf, rmm, cr, sdlrtu, contact_tc, msg_tc, theme),
 	sw(conf),
 	tuiu(tc, conf),
 	tdch(tpi)
diff --git a/src/main_screen.hpp b/src/main_screen.hpp
index 3dd2cc02..2b7bb763 100644
--- a/src/main_screen.hpp
+++ b/src/main_screen.hpp
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ struct MainScreen final : public Screen {
 	ToxTransferManager ttm;
 	ToxFriendFauxOfflineMessaging tffom;
 
+	Theme& theme;
+
 	MediaMetaInfoLoader mmil;
 	ToxAvatarManager tam;
 
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ struct MainScreen final : public Screen {
 	uint64_t _window_hidden_ts {0};
 	float _time_since_event {0.f};
 
-	MainScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer_, std::string save_path, std::string save_password, std::string new_username, std::vector<std::string> plugins);
+	MainScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer_, Theme& theme_, std::string save_path, std::string save_password, std::string new_username, std::vector<std::string> plugins);
 	~MainScreen(void);
 
 	bool handleEvent(SDL_Event& e) override;
diff --git a/src/start_screen.cpp b/src/start_screen.cpp
index 16a27d78..5fc33c90 100644
--- a/src/start_screen.cpp
+++ b/src/start_screen.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <filesystem>
 
-StartScreen::StartScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer) : _renderer(renderer) {
+StartScreen::StartScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer, Theme& theme) : _renderer(renderer), _theme(theme) {
 }
 
 Screen* StartScreen::render(float, bool&) {
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ Screen* StartScreen::render(float, bool&) {
 		}
 	} else {
 		if (ImGui::Button("load", {60, 25})) {
-			auto new_screen = std::make_unique<MainScreen>(_renderer, _tox_profile_path, _password, _user_name, queued_plugin_paths);
+			auto new_screen = std::make_unique<MainScreen>(_renderer, _theme, _tox_profile_path, _password, _user_name, queued_plugin_paths);
 			return new_screen.release();
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/start_screen.hpp b/src/start_screen.hpp
index 0aa27150..78f08be8 100644
--- a/src/start_screen.hpp
+++ b/src/start_screen.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "./screen.hpp"
 
+#include "./chat_gui/theme.hpp"
 #include "./chat_gui/file_selector.hpp"
 
 #include <vector>
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
 struct StartScreen final : public Screen {
 	SDL_Renderer* _renderer;
+	Theme& _theme;
 	FileSelector _fss;
 
 	bool _new_save {false};
@@ -26,7 +28,7 @@ struct StartScreen final : public Screen {
 	std::vector<std::string> queued_plugin_paths;
 
 	StartScreen(void) = delete;
-	StartScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer);
+	StartScreen(SDL_Renderer* renderer, Theme& theme);
 	~StartScreen(void) = default;
 
 	// return nullptr if not next