diff --git a/base.css b/base.css
index 67038c0..74e679f 100644
--- a/base.css
+++ b/base.css
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
-@import url("https://styles.alv.cx/modules/colors/gruvbox.css");
-
 :root {
 	--light: #fefefe;
-	--dark: var(--gruvbox-bg);
 
 	--fg: var(--dark);
 	--bg: var(--light);
diff --git a/modules/colors/base16-default.css b/modules/colors/base16-default.css
index 3763f65..fd9e5bd 100644
--- a/modules/colors/base16-default.css
+++ b/modules/colors/base16-default.css
@@ -28,4 +28,13 @@
 	--base16-blue: var(--base16-base0D);
 	--base16-purple: var(--base16-base0E);
 	--base16-brown: var(--base16-base0F);
+
+	--orange: var(--base16-orange);
+	--red: var(--base16-red);
+	--green: var(--base16-green);
+	--yellow: var(--base16-yellow);
+	--blue: var(--base16-blue);
+	--purple: var(--base16-purple);
+	--light: var(--base16-fg);
+	--dark: var(--base16-bg);
 }
diff --git a/modules/colors/gruvbox.css b/modules/colors/gruvbox.css
index 41e251b..64caffe 100644
--- a/modules/colors/gruvbox.css
+++ b/modules/colors/gruvbox.css
@@ -32,4 +32,13 @@
 	--gruvbox-fg3:   #bdae93;
 	--gruvbox-fg4:   #a89984;
 	--gruvbox-gray:  #928374;
+
+	--orange: var(--gruvbox-orange);
+	--red: var(--gruvbox-red);
+	--green: var(--gruvbox-green);
+	--yellow: var(--gruvbox-yellow);
+	--blue: var(--gruvbox-blue);
+	--purple: var(--gruvbox-purple);
+	--light: var(--gruvbox-fg);
+	--dark: var(--gruvbox-bg);
 }
diff --git a/modules/darkmode.css b/modules/darkmode.css
index 7249479..cf82e2d 100644
--- a/modules/darkmode.css
+++ b/modules/darkmode.css
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
 	:root {
-		--light: var(--gruvbox-fg);
 		--fg: var(--light);
 		--bg: var(--dark);
 	}
diff --git a/modules/readmes/colors.txt b/modules/readmes/colors.txt
index f12c434..c32395a 100644
--- a/modules/readmes/colors.txt
+++ b/modules/readmes/colors.txt
@@ -3,3 +3,20 @@ in the css
 @import url("https://styles.alv.cx/modules/colors/<colorscheme>.css");
 
 and use the variables created in the file
+
+the following colors will be available to use with all colorschemes (useful for
+switching between colorschemes easily)
+
+
+	--orange
+	--red
+	--green
+	--yellow
+	--blue
+	--purple
+
+	--light
+	--dark
+
+prefer to use `--fg` and `--bg` and be careful with using `--light` and `--dark`
+as it may make light/dark mode switching a pain
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 1a84dea..01198b4 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -1,16 +1,23 @@
 styles.alv.cx
+=============
 
 central styling repo and domain
 
 
-to style a site, put this in a css file somewhere:
+to style a site: 
 
+1. put this at the top of a css file somewhere:
+
+	@import url("https://styles.alv.cx/modules/colors/<colorscheme>.css");
 	@import url("https://styles.alv.cx/base.css");
 
-and any of the optional modules you want.
-a list of actively hosted modules can be seen in this repo in the modules folder and at
-https://styles.alv.cx/modules/
+   replacing <colorscheme> with one of the options available
+
+2. add any of the optional modules you want.
+3. a list of actively hosted modules can be seen in this repo in the modules folder and at
+   https://styles.alv.cx/modules/
 
 there are some variables you may want to use to keep your site's styling consistent and you can
 view them in the `:root` section of `base.css` and any module you use.
+more colors are available at https://styles.alv.cx/modules/readmes/colors.txt