diff --git a/src/gruvbox-main.sh b/src/gruvbox-main.sh
index 19218d8..9701c08 100755
--- a/src/gruvbox-main.sh
+++ b/src/gruvbox-main.sh
@@ -11,71 +11,71 @@ declate -a TMUX_CMDS
 # load libraries
 source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/helper_methods.sh"
 source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/tmux_utils.sh"
-source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/theme_gruvbox_dark.sh"
+source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/theme_gruvbox_dark256.sh"
+source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/theme_gruvbox_light256.sh"
 
 readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX="@tmux-gruvbox"
-readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_THEME="@tmux-gruvbox-theme"
-readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_LEFT_STATUS="@tmux-gruvbox-left-status"
-readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS="@tmux-gruvbox-right-status"
-readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_WINDOW_STATUS_CURRENT_FORMAT="@tmux-gruvbox-window-status-current-format"
-readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_WINDOW_STATUS_FORMAT="@tmux-gruvbox-window-status-format"
+readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_STATUSBAR_ALPHA="@tmux-gruvbox-statusbar-alpha"
+readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_LEFT_STATUS_A="@tmux-gruvbox-left-status-a"
+readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS_X="@tmux-gruvbox-right-status-x"
+readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS_Y="@tmux-gruvbox-right-status-y"
+readonly TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS_Z="@tmux-gruvbox-right-status-z"
 
-# define the reference names for further custom options
-tmux_append_seto "${TMUX_GRUVBOX}"
-tmux_append_seto "${TMUX_GRUVBOX_THEME}"
-tmux_append_seto "${TMUX_GRUVBOX_LEFT_STATUS}"
-tmux_append_seto "${TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS}"
-tmux_append_seto "${TMUX_GRUVBOX_WINDOW_STATUS_CURRENT_FORMAT}"
-tmux_append_seto "${TMUX_GRUVBOX_WINDOW_STATUS_FORMAT}"
-
-print_array TMUX_CMDS  # print options
-tmux "${TMUX_CMDS[@]}" # execute options
-TMUX_CMDS=()           # clean
+# define simple theme options (no color interpolation required)
+DEFAULT_THEME="dark"
+DEFAULT_STATUSBAR_ALPHA=false
+# defaults for theme option (with color interpolation)
+DEFAULT_LEFT_STATUS_A='#S'
+DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS_X='%Y-%m-%d'
+DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS_Y='%H:%M'
+DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS_Z='#h'
 
 main() {
-  local _theme
-  _theme=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX" "$DEFAULT_THEME")
+    TMUX_CMDS=() # clear
 
-  # load proper palette for the theme soon to avoid additional variable interpolation
-  case $_theme in
-  light)
-    source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/palette_gruvbox_light.sh"
-    ;;
-  dark | *)
-    source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/palette_gruvbox_dark.sh"
-    ;;
-  esac
+    # load proper palette for the theme asap to avoid additional variable interpolation
+    local _theme
+    _theme=$(tmux_get_option "${TMUX_GRUVBOX}" "${DEFAULT_THEME}")
+    _statusbar_alpha=$(tmux_get_option "${TMUX_GRUVBOX_STATUSBAR_ALPHA}" "${DEFAULT_STATUSBAR_ALPHA}")
 
-  # defaults for theme option
-  DEFAULT_THEME="dark"
-  DEFAULT_LEFT_STATUS="#[bg=${col_bg3},fg=${col_fg3}] #S #[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_bg3},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]"
-  DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS="#[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_bg2},nobold,nounderscore,noitalics]#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg4}] %Y-%m-%d  %H:%M #[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg3},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]#[bg=${col_fg3},fg=${col_bg1}] #h #{tmux_mode_indicator}"
-  DEFAULT_WINDOW_STATUS_CURRENT_FORMAT="#[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg1},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]#[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg2}] #I #[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg2},bold] #W#{?window_zoomed_flag,*Z,} #[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_yellow2},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]"
-  DEFAULT_WINDOW_STATUS_FORMAT="#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_bg1},noitalics]#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg1}] #I #[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg1}] #W #[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_bg2},noitalics]"
+    case "$_theme" in
+    light | light256)
+        source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/palette_gruvbox_light.sh"
+        source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/theme_gruvbox_light256.sh"
+        ;;
+    dark | dark256 | *)
+        source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/palette_gruvbox_dark.sh"
+        source "${CURRENT_DIR}/src/theme_gruvbox_dark256.sh"
+        ;;
+    esac
 
-  _status_left=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_LEFT_STATUS" "$DEFAULT_LEFT_STATUS")
-  _status_right=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS" "$DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS")
-  _window_status_current_format=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_WINDOW_STATUS_CURRENT_FORMAT" "$DEFAULT_WINDOW_STATUS_CURRENT_FORMAT")
-  _window_status_format=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_WINDOW_STATUS_FORMAT" "$DEFAULT_WINDOW_STATUS_FORMAT")
+    local _status_left _status_right _window_status_current_format _window_status_format
+    _status_left_a=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_LEFT_STATUS_A" "$DEFAULT_LEFT_STATUS_A")
+    _status_right_x=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS_X" "$DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS_X")
+    _status_right_y=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS_Y" "$DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS_Y")
+    _status_right_z=$(tmux_get_option "$TMUX_GRUVBOX_RIGHT_STAUTS_Z" "$DEFAULT_RIGHT_STATUS_Z")
 
-  theme_args=(
-    "$_status_left"
-    "$_status_right"
-    "$_window_status_current_format"
-    "$_window_status_format"
-  )
+    theme_args=(
+        "$_status_left_a"
+        "$_status_right_x"
+        "$_status_right_y"
+        "$_status_right_z"
+        "$_statusbar_alpha"
+    )
 
-  case $_theme in
-  light)
-    set_light_theme "${theme_args[@]}"
-    ;;
-  dark | *)
-    set_dark_theme "${theme_args[@]}"
-    ;;
-  esac
+    case $_theme in
+    light | light256)
+        theme_set_light_256 "${theme_args[@]}"
+        ;;
+    dark | dark256 | *)
+        theme_set_dark_256 "${theme_args[@]}"
+        ;;
+    esac
 
-  # execute commands with tmux as array of options
-  tmux "${TMUX_CMDS[@]}"
+    # execute commands with tmux as array of options
+    tmux "${TMUX_CMDS[@]}"
 }
 
 main "$@"
+
+# vi: ft=bash
diff --git a/src/theme_gruvbox_dark256.sh b/src/theme_gruvbox_dark256.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0dcc014
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/theme_gruvbox_dark256.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Themes may use different colors in sets therefore we setup dark and light
+# separately.
+#
+# shellcheck disable=SC2154
+theme_set_dark_256() {
+  local _left_status_a _right_status_x _right_status_y _right_status_z _statusbar_alpha
+  _left_status_a=$1
+  _right_status_x=$2
+  _right_status_y=$3
+  _right_status_z=$4
+  _statusbar_alpha=$5
+
+  tmux_append_seto "status" "on"
+
+  # default statusbar bg color
+  local _statusbar_bg="${col_bg1}"
+  if [[ "$_statusbar_alpha" == "true" ]]; then _statusbar_bg="default"; fi
+  tmux_append_seto "status-style" "bg=${_statusbar_bg},fg=${col_fg1}"
+
+  # default window title colors
+  local _window_title_bg=${col_yellow2}
+  if [[ "$_statusbar_alpha" == "true" ]]; then _window_title_bg="default"; fi
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-style" "bg=${_window_title_bg},fg=${col_bg1}"
+
+  # default window with an activity alert
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-activity-style" "bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_fg3}"
+
+  # active window title colors
+  local active_window_title_bg=${col_yellow2}
+  if [[ "$_statusbar_alpha" == "true" ]]; then active_window_title_bg="default"; fi
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-current-style" "bg=${active_window_title_bg},fg=${col_bg1}" # TODO cosider removing red!
+
+  # pane border
+  tmux_append_seto "pane-active-border-style" "fg=${col_fg2}"
+  tmux_append_seto "pane-border-style" "fg=${col_bg1}"
+
+  # message infos
+  tmux_append_seto "message-style" "bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg1}"
+
+  # writing commands inactive
+  tmux_append_seto "message-command-style" "bg=${col_fg3},fg=${col_bg1}"
+
+  # pane number display
+  tmux_append_seto "display-panes-active-colour" "${col_fg2}"
+  tmux_append_seto "display-panes-colour" "${col_bg1}"
+
+  # clock
+  tmux_append_setwo "clock-mode-colour" "${col_blue2}"
+
+  # bell
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-bell-style" "bg=${col_red2},fg=${col_bg}"
+
+  ## Theme settings mixed with colors (unfortunately, but there is no cleaner way)
+  tmux_append_seto "status-justify" "left"
+  tmux_append_seto "status-left-style" none
+  tmux_append_seto "status-left-length" "80"
+  tmux_append_seto "status-right-style" none
+  tmux_append_seto "status-right-length" "80"
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-separator" ""
+
+  tmux_append_seto "status-left" "#[bg=${col_bg3},fg=${col_fg3}] ${_left_status_a} #[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_bg3},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]"
+
+  # right status
+  local _status_right_bg=${col_bg1}
+  if [[ "$_statusbar_alpha" == "true" ]]; then _status_right_bg="default"; fi
+  tmux_append_seto "status-right" "#[bg=${_status_right_bg},fg=${col_bg2},nobold,nounderscore,noitalics]#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg4}] ${_right_status_x}  ${_right_status_y} #[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg3},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]#[bg=${col_fg3},fg=${col_bg1}] ${_right_status_z}"
+
+  # current window
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-current-format" "#[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg1},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]#[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg2}] #I #[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg2},bold] #W#{?window_zoomed_flag,*Z,} #{?window_end_flag,#[bg=default],#[bg=colour237]}#[fg=${col_yellow2},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]"
+
+  # default window
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-format" "#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_bg1},noitalics]#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg1}] #I #[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg1}] #W #{?window_end_flag,#[bg=default],#[bg=colour237]}#[fg=${col_bg2},noitalics]"
+}
diff --git a/src/theme_gruvbox_dark.sh b/src/theme_gruvbox_light256.sh
similarity index 60%
rename from src/theme_gruvbox_dark.sh
rename to src/theme_gruvbox_light256.sh
index 4ae4a3d..aaa5246 100644
--- a/src/theme_gruvbox_dark.sh
+++ b/src/theme_gruvbox_light256.sh
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 # themes may use different colors in sets therefore we setup dark and light separately
-set_dark_theme() {
-  local _left_status_value _right_status_value _window_status_current_format
-  _left_status_value=$1
-  _right_status_value=$2
-  _window_status_current_format=$3
-  _window_status_format=$4
+theme_set_light_256() {
+  local _left_status_value _right_status_value _window_status_current_format _window_status_format
+  _left_status_a=$1
+  _right_status_x=$2
+  _right_status_y=$3
+  _right_status_z=$4
 
   tmux_append_seto "status" "on"
 
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ set_dark_theme() {
   tmux_append_seto "status-right-length" "80"
   tmux_append_setwo "window-status-separator" ""
 
-  tmux_append_seto "status-left" "${_left_status_value}"
-  tmux_append_seto "status-right" "${_right_status_value}"
+  tmux_append_seto "status-left" "#[bg=${col_bg3},fg=${col_fg3}] ${_left_status_a} #[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_bg3},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]"
+  tmux_append_seto "status-right" "#[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_bg2},nobold,nounderscore,noitalics]#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg4}] ${_right_status_x}  ${_right_status_y} #[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg3},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]#[bg=${col_fg3},fg=${col_bg1}] ${_right_status_z}"
 
-  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-current-format" "${_window_status_current_format}"
-  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-format" "${_window_status_format}"
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-current-format" "#[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg1},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]#[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg2}] #I #[bg=${col_yellow2},fg=${col_bg2},bold] #W#{?window_zoomed_flag,*Z,} #[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_yellow2},nobold,noitalics,nounderscore]"
+  tmux_append_setwo "window-status-format" "#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_bg1},noitalics]#[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg1}] #I #[bg=${col_bg2},fg=${col_fg1}] #W #[bg=${col_bg1},fg=${col_bg2},noitalics]"
 }
diff --git a/src/tmux_utils.sh b/src/tmux_utils.sh
index 6e2ae12..cc235b3 100644
--- a/src/tmux_utils.sh
+++ b/src/tmux_utils.sh
@@ -1,17 +1,47 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 # get desired option from tmux or default
-tmux_get_option() {
-  local _option _default_value
-  _option="$1"
+tmux_get_option_or_default() {
+  local _option_name _default_value
+  _option_name="$1"
   _default_value="$2"
 
-  local _option_value
-  _option_value=$(tmux show-option -gqv "$_option")
-  if [ -z "$_option_value" ]; then
-    echo "$_default_value"
+  local _current_option_value
+  _current_option_value=$(tmux show-option -gqv "$_option_name")
+  if [[ -n "$_current_option_value" ]]; then
+    echo "$_current_option_value"
   else
-    echo "$_option_value"
+    echo "$_default_value"
+  fi
+}
+
+# get desired tmux option or use given default value
+tmux_get_option() {
+  local _option_name _default_value
+  _option_name="$1"
+  _default_value="$2"
+
+  local _current_option_value
+  _current_option_value=$(tmux show-option -gqv "$_option_name")
+  if [[ -n "$_current_option_value" ]]; then
+    echo "$_current_option_value"
+  else
+    echo "$_default_value"
+  fi
+}
+
+# get desired window-option from tmux or default
+tmux_get_window_option() {
+  local _option_name _default_value
+  _option_name="$1"
+  _default_value="$2"
+
+  local _current_option_value
+  _current_option_value=$(tmux show-window-option -gqv "$_option_name")
+  if [[ -n "$_current_option_value" ]]; then
+    echo "$_current_option_value"
+  else
+    echo "$_default_value"
   fi
 }
 
@@ -21,8 +51,6 @@ tmux_append_seto() {
   _option="$1"
   _value="$2"
   TMUX_CMDS+=("set-option" "-gq" "${_option}" "${_value}" ";")
-  # _retult=("set-option -gq" "${_option}" "${_value}" ";")
-  # echo "${_retult[*]}"
 }
 
 # append preconfigured tmux set-window-option to global array
@@ -31,6 +59,20 @@ tmux_append_setwo() {
   _option="$1"
   _value="$2"
   TMUX_CMDS+=("set-window-option" "-gq" "${_option}" "${_value}" ";")
-  # _retult=("set-window-option -gq" "${_option}" "${_value}" ";")
-  # echo "${_retult[*]}"
+}
+
+# imediately execute tmux option
+tmux_set_option_now() {
+  local _option_name _value
+  _option_name="$1"
+  _value="$2"
+  tmux set-option -gq "$_option_name" "$_value"
+}
+
+# imediately execute tmux option
+tmux_set_window_option_now() {
+  local _option_name _value
+  _option_name="$1"
+  _value="$2"
+  tmux set-window-option -gq "$_option_name" "$_value"
 }