diff --git a/src/bar/bar.h b/src/bar/bar.h
index e71763e..a2d453f 100644
--- a/src/bar/bar.h
+++ b/src/bar/bar.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <zdwm/types.h>
 
 #include "bar/types.h"
+#include "base/color.h"
 
 typedef struct bar_output_t {
   cairo_t *cr;
@@ -14,6 +15,10 @@ typedef struct bar_output_t {
   bar_side_t sides[ZDWM_BAR_SIDE_COUNT];
 } bar_output_t;
 
+typedef struct bar_palette_t {
+  color_t bg;
+} bar_palette_t;
+
 typedef struct bar_t {
   bar_output_t *bars;
   size_t count;
@@ -21,4 +26,5 @@ typedef struct bar_t {
   bool visible;
 
   zdwm_bar_config_t config;
+  bar_palette_t palette;
 } bar_t;
diff --git a/src/config/defaults.c b/src/config/defaults.c
index ce5bd2f..b89f5d1 100644
--- a/src/config/defaults.c
+++ b/src/config/defaults.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <zdwm/action.h>
+#include <zdwm/bar.h>
 #include <zdwm/types.h>
 
 #include "base/log.h"
@@ -167,5 +168,18 @@ bool config_defaults_build(
   api->set_initial_mode(builder, default_mode);
   api->set_border_config(builder, 2, "#1c2022", "#606060");
 
+  zdwm_bar_config_t bar_config = {
+    .height      = 28,
+    .show_top    = true,
+    .padding_x   = 10,
+    .fps         = 30,
+    .font_family = "Terminus, Sarasa Term SC",
+    .font_size   = 10,
+    .dpi         = 144,
+
+    .bg = "#222222",
+  };
+  api->set_bar_config(builder, bar_config);
+
   return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/runtime/runtime.c b/src/runtime/runtime.c
index 0a55db1..5634222 100644
--- a/src/runtime/runtime.c
+++ b/src/runtime/runtime.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 #include "bar/bar.h"
 #include "base/array.h"
+#include "base/color.h"
 #include "base/log.h"
 #include "base/memory.h"
 #include "base/window_list.h"
@@ -186,6 +187,46 @@ static void runtime_notify_initial_state(runtime_t *runtime) {
   listeners_notify_binding_mode(listeners, runtime->binding_table);
 }
 
+static void runtime_init_bar(runtime_t *runtime) {
+  auto bar_height = runtime->bar.config.height;
+  if (bar_height <= 0) return;
+
+  auto show_top = runtime->bar.config.show_top;
+  inset_t inset = {
+    .top    = show_top ? bar_height : 0,
+    .bottom = show_top ? 0 : bar_height,
+  };
+
+  auto state = &runtime->state;
+  auto count = state_output_count(state);
+
+  auto bar     = &runtime->bar;
+  bar->bars    = p_new(bar_output_t, count);
+  bar->count   = count;
+  bar->visible = true;
+
+  color_parse(bar->config.bg, &bar->palette.bg);
+
+  auto backend = runtime->backend;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
+    auto output = state_output_at(state, i);
+    state_output_inset_workarea(state, output->id, inset);
+    auto geometry   = output->geometry;
+    rect_t bar_rect = {
+      .x      = geometry.x,
+      .y      = show_top ? 0 : geometry.y + geometry.height - bar_height,
+      .width  = geometry.width,
+      .height = bar_height,
+    };
+    auto color            = bar->palette.bg.argb;
+    auto bar_window       = backend_create_bar_window(backend, bar_rect, color);
+    auto bar_output       = &bar->bars[i];
+    bar_output->cr        = bar_window.cr;
+    bar_output->window_id = bar_window.window_id;
+    bar_output->output_id = output->id;
+  }
+}
+
 static void runtime_setup(runtime_t *runtime) {
   size_t bind_count = 0;
   auto bindings =
@@ -211,6 +252,8 @@ static void runtime_setup(runtime_t *runtime) {
   backend_apply_effect(backend, plan->effects, plan->count);
   plan_reset(plan);
   runtime_notify_initial_state(runtime);
+
+  runtime_init_bar(runtime);
 }
 
 static const layout_result_t *runtime_layout_calc(runtime_t *runtime) {