diff --git a/src/defaultConfig.js b/src/defaultConfig.js
index cc93e6846..f2f4b2e85 100644
--- a/src/defaultConfig.js
+++ b/src/defaultConfig.js
@@ -1,58 +1,60 @@
+const colors = {
+  'black': '#000000',
+  'grey-900': '#212b35',
+  'grey-800': '#404e5c',
+  'grey-700': '#647382',
+  'grey-600': '#919eab',
+  'grey-500': '#c5ced6',
+  'grey-400': '#dfe3e8',
+  'grey-300': '#f0f2f5',
+  'grey-200': '#f7f9fa',
+  'white': '#ffffff',
+  'red-dark': '#d43633',
+  'red': '#f25451',
+  'red-light': '#fa8785',
+  'red-lightest': '#fff1f0',
+  'orange-dark': '#f29500',
+  'orange': '#ffb82b',
+  'orange-light': '#ffd685',
+  'orange-lightest': '#fff8eb',
+  'yellow-dark': '#ffc400',
+  'yellow': '#ffe14a',
+  'yellow-light': '#ffea83',
+  'yellow-lightest': '#fffbe5',
+  'green-dark': '#34ae4c',
+  'green': '#57d06f',
+  'green-light': '#b1f3be',
+  'green-lightest': '#eefff1',
+  'teal-dark': '#249e9a',
+  'teal': '#4dc0b5',
+  'teal-light': '#9eebe4',
+  'teal-lightest': '#eefffd',
+  'blue-dark': '#3687c8',
+  'blue': '#4aa2ea',
+  'blue-light': '#acdaff',
+  'blue-lightest': '#f1f9ff',
+  'indigo-dark': '#4957a5',
+  'indigo': '#6574cd',
+  'indigo-light': '#bcc5fb',
+  'indigo-lightest': '#f4f5ff',
+  'purple-dark': '#714cb4',
+  'purple': '#976ae6',
+  'purple-light': '#ceb3ff',
+  'purple-lightest': '#f7f3ff',
+  'pink-dark': '#d84f7d',
+  'pink': '#f66d9b',
+  'pink-light': '#ffa5c3',
+  'pink-lightest': '#fdf2f5',
+}
+
 export default {
+  colors,
   breakpoints: {
     sm: '576px',
     md: '768px',
     lg: '992px',
     xl: '1200px',
   },
-  colors: {
-    'black': '#000000',
-    'grey-900': '#212b35',
-    'grey-800': '#404e5c',
-    'grey-700': '#647382',
-    'grey-600': '#919eab',
-    'grey-500': '#c5ced6',
-    'grey-400': '#dfe3e8',
-    'grey-300': '#f0f2f5',
-    'grey-200': '#f7f9fa',
-    'white': '#ffffff',
-    'red-dark': '#d43633',
-    'red': '#f25451',
-    'red-light': '#fa8785',
-    'red-lightest': '#fff1f0',
-    'orange-dark': '#f29500',
-    'orange': '#ffb82b',
-    'orange-light': '#ffd685',
-    'orange-lightest': '#fff8eb',
-    'yellow-dark': '#ffc400',
-    'yellow': '#ffe14a',
-    'yellow-light': '#ffea83',
-    'yellow-lightest': '#fffbe5',
-    'green-dark': '#34ae4c',
-    'green': '#57d06f',
-    'green-light': '#b1f3be',
-    'green-lightest': '#eefff1',
-    'teal-dark': '#249e9a',
-    'teal': '#4dc0b5',
-    'teal-light': '#9eebe4',
-    'teal-lightest': '#eefffd',
-    'blue-dark': '#3687c8',
-    'blue': '#4aa2ea',
-    'blue-light': '#acdaff',
-    'blue-lightest': '#f1f9ff',
-    'indigo-dark': '#4957a5',
-    'indigo': '#6574cd',
-    'indigo-light': '#bcc5fb',
-    'indigo-lightest': '#f4f5ff',
-    'purple-dark': '#714cb4',
-    'purple': '#976ae6',
-    'purple-light': '#ceb3ff',
-    'purple-lightest': '#f7f3ff',
-    'pink-dark': '#d84f7d',
-    'pink': '#f66d9b',
-    'pink-light': '#ffa5c3',
-    'pink-lightest': '#fdf2f5',
-  },
   text: {
     fonts: {
       'sans': '-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Fira Sans, Droid Sans, Helvetica Neue',
@@ -88,109 +90,105 @@ export default {
       'normal': '0',
       'wide': '0.1em',
     },
-    colors: [
-      {
-        'light': 'white',
-        'light-soft': 'rgba(255,255,255,.6)',
-        'light-softer': 'rgba(255,255,255,.45)',
-        'light-softest': 'rgba(255,255,255,.35)',
-        'dark': 'grey-900',
-        'dark-soft': 'grey-700',
-        'dark-softer': 'grey-600',
-        'dark-softest': 'grey-500',
-      },
-      'red-dark',
-      'red',
-      'red-light',
-      'red-lightest',
-      'orange-dark',
-      'orange',
-      'orange-light',
-      'orange-lightest',
-      'yellow-dark',
-      'yellow',
-      'yellow-light',
-      'yellow-lightest',
-      'green-dark',
-      'green',
-      'green-light',
-      'green-lightest',
-      'teal-dark',
-      'teal',
-      'teal-light',
-      'teal-lightest',
-      'blue-dark',
-      'blue',
-      'blue-light',
-      'blue-lightest',
-      'indigo-dark',
-      'indigo',
-      'indigo-light',
-      'indigo-lightest',
-      'purple-dark',
-      'purple',
-      'purple-light',
-      'purple-lightest',
-      'pink-dark',
-      'pink',
-      'pink-light',
-      'pink-lightest',
-    ]
+    colors: {
+      'light': colors['white'],
+      'light-soft': 'rgba(255,255,255,.6)',
+      'light-softer': 'rgba(255,255,255,.45)',
+      'light-softest': 'rgba(255,255,255,.35)',
+      'dark': colors['grey-900'],
+      'dark-soft': colors['grey-700'],
+      'dark-softer': colors['grey-600'],
+      'dark-softest': colors['grey-500'],
+      'red-dark': colors['red-dark'],
+      'red': colors['red'],
+      'red-light': colors['red-light'],
+      'red-lightest': colors['red-lightest'],
+      'orange-dark': colors['orange-dark'],
+      'orange': colors['orange'],
+      'orange-light': colors['orange-light'],
+      'orange-lightest': colors['orange-lightest'],
+      'yellow-dark': colors['yellow-dark'],
+      'yellow': colors['yellow'],
+      'yellow-light': colors['yellow-light'],
+      'yellow-lightest': colors['yellow-lightest'],
+      'green-dark': colors['green-dark'],
+      'green': colors['green'],
+      'green-light': colors['green-light'],
+      'green-lightest': colors['green-lightest'],
+      'teal-dark': colors['teal-dark'],
+      'teal': colors['teal'],
+      'teal-light': colors['teal-light'],
+      'teal-lightest': colors['teal-lightest'],
+      'blue-dark': colors['blue-dark'],
+      'blue': colors['blue'],
+      'blue-light': colors['blue-light'],
+      'blue-lightest': colors['blue-lightest'],
+      'indigo-dark': colors['indigo-dark'],
+      'indigo': colors['indigo'],
+      'indigo-light': colors['indigo-light'],
+      'indigo-lightest': colors['indigo-lightest'],
+      'purple-dark': colors['purple-dark'],
+      'purple': colors['purple'],
+      'purple-light': colors['purple-light'],
+      'purple-lightest': colors['purple-lightest'],
+      'pink-dark': colors['pink-dark'],
+      'pink': colors['pink'],
+      'pink-light': colors['pink-light'],
+      'pink-lightest': colors['pink-lightest'],
+    },
   },
   backgrounds: {
-    colors: [
-      {
-        'light': 'white',
-        'light-soft': 'grey-200',
-        'light-softer': 'grey-300',
-        'light-softest': 'grey-400',
-        'dark': 'grey-900',
-        'dark-soft': 'grey-800',
-        'dark-softer': 'grey-700',
-        'dark-softest': 'grey-600',
-      },
-      'red-dark',
-      'red',
-      'red-light',
-      'red-lightest',
-      'orange-dark',
-      'orange',
-      'orange-light',
-      'orange-lightest',
-      'yellow-dark',
-      'yellow',
-      'yellow-light',
-      'yellow-lightest',
-      'green-dark',
-      'green',
-      'green-light',
-      'green-lightest',
-      'teal-dark',
-      'teal',
-      'teal-light',
-      'teal-lightest',
-      'blue-dark',
-      'blue',
-      'blue-light',
-      'blue-lightest',
-      'indigo-dark',
-      'indigo',
-      'indigo-light',
-      'indigo-lightest',
-      'purple-dark',
-      'purple',
-      'purple-light',
-      'purple-lightest',
-      'pink-dark',
-      'pink',
-      'pink-light',
-      'pink-lightest',
-    ]
+    colors: {
+      'light': colors['white'],
+      'light-soft': colors['grey-200'],
+      'light-softer': colors['grey-300'],
+      'light-softest': colors['grey-400'],
+      'dark': colors['grey-900'],
+      'dark-soft': colors['grey-800'],
+      'dark-softer': colors['grey-700'],
+      'dark-softest': colors['grey-600'],
+      'red-dark': colors['red-dark'],
+      'red': colors['red'],
+      'red-light': colors['red-light'],
+      'red-lightest': colors['red-lightest'],
+      'orange-dark': colors['orange-dark'],
+      'orange': colors['orange'],
+      'orange-light': colors['orange-light'],
+      'orange-lightest': colors['orange-lightest'],
+      'yellow-dark': colors['yellow-dark'],
+      'yellow': colors['yellow'],
+      'yellow-light': colors['yellow-light'],
+      'yellow-lightest': colors['yellow-lightest'],
+      'green-dark': colors['green-dark'],
+      'green': colors['green'],
+      'green-light': colors['green-light'],
+      'green-lightest': colors['green-lightest'],
+      'teal-dark': colors['teal-dark'],
+      'teal': colors['teal'],
+      'teal-light': colors['teal-light'],
+      'teal-lightest': colors['teal-lightest'],
+      'blue-dark': colors['blue-dark'],
+      'blue': colors['blue'],
+      'blue-light': colors['blue-light'],
+      'blue-lightest': colors['blue-lightest'],
+      'indigo-dark': colors['indigo-dark'],
+      'indigo': colors['indigo'],
+      'indigo-light': colors['indigo-light'],
+      'indigo-lightest': colors['indigo-lightest'],
+      'purple-dark': colors['purple-dark'],
+      'purple': colors['purple'],
+      'purple-light': colors['purple-light'],
+      'purple-lightest': colors['purple-lightest'],
+      'pink-dark': colors['pink-dark'],
+      'pink': colors['pink'],
+      'pink-light': colors['pink-light'],
+      'pink-lightest': colors['pink-lightest'],
+    }
   },
   borders: {
     defaults: {
       width: '1px',
-      color: 'grey-500',
+      color: colors['grey-500'],
     },
     widths: {
       '0': '0',
@@ -206,58 +204,56 @@ export default {
         pill: '9999px',
       }
     },
-    colors: [
-      {
-        'light': 'white',
-        'light-soft': 'grey-200',
-        'light-softer': 'grey-300',
-        'dark': 'grey-600',
-        'dark-soft': 'grey-500',
-        'dark-softer': 'grey-400',
-        'light-overlay': 'hsla(0,0%,0%,.2)',
-        'light-overlay-soft': 'hsla(0,0%,0%,.1)',
-        'light-overlay-softer': 'hsla(0,0%,0%,.05)',
-        'dark-overlay': 'hsla(0,0%,100%,1)',
-        'dark-overlay-soft': 'hsla(0,0%,100%,.6)',
-        'dark-overlay-softer': 'hsla(0,0%,100%,.35)',
-      },
-      'red-dark',
-      'red',
-      'red-light',
-      'red-lightest',
-      'orange-dark',
-      'orange',
-      'orange-light',
-      'orange-lightest',
-      'yellow-dark',
-      'yellow',
-      'yellow-light',
-      'yellow-lightest',
-      'green-dark',
-      'green',
-      'green-light',
-      'green-lightest',
-      'teal-dark',
-      'teal',
-      'teal-light',
-      'teal-lightest',
-      'blue-dark',
-      'blue',
-      'blue-light',
-      'blue-lightest',
-      'indigo-dark',
-      'indigo',
-      'indigo-light',
-      'indigo-lightest',
-      'purple-dark',
-      'purple',
-      'purple-light',
-      'purple-lightest',
-      'pink-dark',
-      'pink',
-      'pink-light',
-      'pink-lightest',
-    ]
+    colors: {
+      'light-overlay': 'hsla(0,0%,0%,.2)',
+      'light-overlay-soft': 'hsla(0,0%,0%,.1)',
+      'light-overlay-softer': 'hsla(0,0%,0%,.05)',
+      'dark-overlay': 'hsla(0,0%,100%,1)',
+      'dark-overlay-soft': 'hsla(0,0%,100%,.6)',
+      'dark-overlay-softer': 'hsla(0,0%,100%,.35)',
+      'light': colors['white'],
+      'light-soft': colors['grey-200'],
+      'light-softer': colors['grey-300'],
+      'dark': colors['grey-600'],
+      'dark-soft': colors['grey-500'],
+      'dark-softer': colors['grey-400'],
+      'red-dark': colors['red-dark'],
+      'red': colors['red'],
+      'red-light': colors['red-light'],
+      'red-lightest': colors['red-lightest'],
+      'orange-dark': colors['orange-dark'],
+      'orange': colors['orange'],
+      'orange-light': colors['orange-light'],
+      'orange-lightest': colors['orange-lightest'],
+      'yellow-dark': colors['yellow-dark'],
+      'yellow': colors['yellow'],
+      'yellow-light': colors['yellow-light'],
+      'yellow-lightest': colors['yellow-lightest'],
+      'green-dark': colors['green-dark'],
+      'green': colors['green'],
+      'green-light': colors['green-light'],
+      'green-lightest': colors['green-lightest'],
+      'teal-dark': colors['teal-dark'],
+      'teal': colors['teal'],
+      'teal-light': colors['teal-light'],
+      'teal-lightest': colors['teal-lightest'],
+      'blue-dark': colors['blue-dark'],
+      'blue': colors['blue'],
+      'blue-light': colors['blue-light'],
+      'blue-lightest': colors['blue-lightest'],
+      'indigo-dark': colors['indigo-dark'],
+      'indigo': colors['indigo'],
+      'indigo-light': colors['indigo-light'],
+      'indigo-lightest': colors['indigo-lightest'],
+      'purple-dark': colors['purple-dark'],
+      'purple': colors['purple'],
+      'purple-light': colors['purple-light'],
+      'purple-lightest': colors['purple-lightest'],
+      'pink-dark': colors['pink-dark'],
+      'pink': colors['pink'],
+      'pink-light': colors['pink-light'],
+      'pink-lightest': colors['pink-lightest'],
+    }
   },
   sizing: {
     width: {
diff --git a/src/generators/borderWidths.js b/src/generators/borderWidths.js
index 0b21e5d43..71f63329e 100644
--- a/src/generators/borderWidths.js
+++ b/src/generators/borderWidths.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import _ from 'lodash'
 import defineClass from '../util/defineClass'
 import defineClasses from '../util/defineClasses'
-import findColor from '../util/findColor'
 
 function defaultBorder(width, color) {
   return defineClasses({
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ function sizedBorder(size, width, color) {
 }
 
 module.exports = function({colors, borders}) {
-  const color = findColor(colors, borders.defaults.color)
+  const color = borders.defaults.color
 
   return _.flatten([
     defaultBorder(borders.defaults.width, color),
diff --git a/src/util/findColor.js b/src/util/findColor.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 1e58f847c..000000000
--- a/src/util/findColor.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-import _ from 'lodash'
-
-export default function findColor(colors, color) {
-  return _.get(colors, color, color)
-}
diff --git a/src/util/mergeConfig.js b/src/util/mergeConfig.js
index e5edc9960..24db80900 100644
--- a/src/util/mergeConfig.js
+++ b/src/util/mergeConfig.js
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 import _ from 'lodash'
-import normalizeColorList from './normalizeColorList'
-import findColor from './findColor'
 
 const configTemplate = {
   breakpoints: null,
@@ -65,19 +63,7 @@ function appendConfig(base, appends) {
   })
 }
 
-function normalizeConfigColors(config, colorPalette) {
-  const cloned = _.cloneDeep(config)
-
-  cloned.text.colors = normalizeColorList(cloned.text.colors, colorPalette)
-  cloned.borders.defaults.color = findColor(colorPalette, cloned.borders.defaults.color)
-  cloned.borders.colors = normalizeColorList(cloned.borders.colors, colorPalette)
-  cloned.backgrounds.colors = normalizeColorList(cloned.backgrounds.colors, colorPalette)
-
-  return cloned
-}
-
 export default function mergeConfig(base, other) {
   const replaced = replaceDefaults(configTemplate, base, other)
-  const config = appendConfig(replaced, _.get(other, 'extend', {}))
-  return normalizeConfigColors(config, config.colors)
+  return appendConfig(replaced, _.get(other, 'extend', {}))
 }
diff --git a/src/util/normalizeColorList.js b/src/util/normalizeColorList.js
deleted file mode 100644
index bd17c743a..000000000
--- a/src/util/normalizeColorList.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-import _ from 'lodash'
-import defineClass from './defineClass'
-import findColor from './findColor'
-
-export default function (colors, colorPool) {
-  if (_.isArray(colors)) {
-    colors = _(colors).flatMap(color => {
-      if (_.isString(color)) {
-        return [[color, color]]
-      }
-      return _.toPairs(color)
-    }).fromPairs().value()
-  }
-
-  return _.mapValues(colors, (color) => {
-    return findColor(colorPool, color)
-  })
-}