diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index cc36d01..b042390 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ if fn.empty(fn.glob(install_path)) > 0 then
   vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("User", {
     pattern = "PackerComplete",
     callback = function()
-      require("base46").compile()
       require("base46").load_all_highlights()
 
       vim.cmd "bw | silent! MasonInstallAll" -- close packer window
diff --git a/lua/core/default_config.lua b/lua/core/default_config.lua
index 5d11e7c..24c6592 100644
--- a/lua/core/default_config.lua
+++ b/lua/core/default_config.lua
@@ -10,14 +10,27 @@ M.options = {
 }
 
 M.ui = {
+  ------------------------------- base46 -------------------------------------
   -- hl = highlights
   hl_add = {},
   hl_override = {},
+
   changed_themes = {},
   theme_toggle = { "onedark", "one_light" },
   theme = "onedark", -- default theme
+
   transparency = false,
 
+  -- cmp themeing
+  cmp = {
+    icons = true,
+    lspkind_text = true,
+    style = "default", -- default/flat_light/flat_dark/atom/atom_colored
+    border_color = "grey_fg", -- only applicable for "default" style, use color names from base30 variables
+    selected_item_bg = "colored", -- colored / simple
+  },
+
+  ------------------------------- nvchad_ui modules -----------------------------
   statusline = {
     separator_style = "default", -- default/round/block/arrow
     overriden_modules = nil,
@@ -58,7 +71,7 @@ M.ui = {
 
 M.plugins = {}
 
--- check core.mappings for table structure
+-- these are default mappings, check core.mappings for table structure
 M.mappings = require "core.mappings"
 
 return M
diff --git a/lua/core/init.lua b/lua/core/init.lua
index 80d9250..7d1fb4d 100644
--- a/lua/core/init.lua
+++ b/lua/core/init.lua
@@ -29,5 +29,5 @@ autocmd("VimEnter", {
 local new_cmd = vim.api.nvim_create_user_command
 
 new_cmd("CompileNvTheme", function()
-  require("base46").compile()
+  require("base46").load_all_highlights()
 end, {})
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua
index c89daae..2a7312d 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,35 @@ loadfile(vim.g.base46_cache .. "cmp")()
 
 vim.o.completeopt = "menu,menuone,noselect"
 
+local cmp_ui = require("core.utils").load_config().ui.cmp
+local cmp_style = cmp_ui.style
+
+local field_arrangement = {
+  atom = { "kind", "abbr", "menu" },
+  atom_colored = { "kind", "abbr", "menu" },
+}
+
+local formatting_style = {
+  -- default fields order i.e completion word + item.kind + item.kind icons
+  fields = field_arrangement[cmp_style] or { "abbr", "kind", "menu" },
+
+  format = function(_, item)
+    local icons = require("nvchad_ui.icons").lspkind
+    local icon = (cmp_ui.icons and icons[item.kind]) or ""
+
+    if cmp_style == "atom" or cmp_style == "atom_colored" then
+      icon = " " .. icon .. " "
+      item.menu = cmp_ui.lspkind_text and "   (" .. item.kind .. ")" or ""
+      item.kind = icon
+    else
+      icon = cmp_ui.lspkind_text and (" " .. icon .. " ") or icon
+      item.kind = string.format("%s %s", icon, cmp_ui.lspkind_text and item.kind or "")
+    end
+
+    return item
+  end,
+}
+
 local function border(hl_name)
   return {
     { "╭", hl_name },
@@ -33,11 +62,12 @@ end
 local options = {
   window = {
     completion = {
-      border = border "CmpBorder",
-      winhighlight = "Normal:CmpPmenu,CursorLine:PmenuSel,Search:None",
+      side_padding = (cmp_style ~= "atom" and cmp_style ~= "atom_colored") and 1 or 0,
+      winhighlight = "Normal:CmpPmenu,CursorLine:CmpSel,Search:PmenuSel",
     },
     documentation = {
       border = border "CmpDocBorder",
+      winhighlight = "Normal:CmpDoc",
     },
   },
   snippet = {
@@ -45,13 +75,9 @@ local options = {
       require("luasnip").lsp_expand(args.body)
     end,
   },
-  formatting = {
-    format = function(_, vim_item)
-      local icons = require("nvchad_ui.icons").lspkind
-      vim_item.kind = string.format("%s %s", icons[vim_item.kind], vim_item.kind)
-      return vim_item
-    end,
-  },
+
+  formatting = formatting_style,
+
   mapping = {
     ["<C-p>"] = cmp.mapping.select_prev_item(),
     ["<C-n>"] = cmp.mapping.select_next_item(),
@@ -97,6 +123,10 @@ local options = {
   },
 }
 
+if cmp_style ~= "atom" and cmp_style ~= "atom_colored" then
+  options.window.completion.border = border "CmpBorder"
+end
+
 -- check for any override
 options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "hrsh7th/nvim-cmp")