diff --git a/yazi-config/preset/theme-dark.toml b/yazi-config/preset/theme-dark.toml
index 5d0669a0..0bfba887 100644
--- a/yazi-config/preset/theme-dark.toml
+++ b/yazi-config/preset/theme-dark.toml
@@ -20,11 +20,9 @@ light = ""
 
 [app]
 overall = {}
-
-[app.panes]
-parent  = ""
-current = ""
-preview = ""
+parent  = {}
+current = {}
+preview = {}
 
 # : }}}
 
diff --git a/yazi-config/preset/theme-light.toml b/yazi-config/preset/theme-light.toml
index 2070c514..629077c9 100644
--- a/yazi-config/preset/theme-light.toml
+++ b/yazi-config/preset/theme-light.toml
@@ -20,11 +20,9 @@ light = ""
 
 [app]
 overall = {}
-
-[app.panes]
-parent  = ""
-current = ""
-preview = ""
+parent  = {}
+current = {}
+preview = {}
 
 # : }}}
 
diff --git a/yazi-config/src/theme/theme.rs b/yazi-config/src/theme/theme.rs
index fff8fb6f..4c981718 100644
--- a/yazi-config/src/theme/theme.rs
+++ b/yazi-config/src/theme/theme.rs
@@ -37,11 +37,6 @@ pub struct Theme {
 #[derive(Deserialize, DeserializeOver2)]
 pub struct App {
 	pub overall: Style,
-	pub panes:   AppPanes,
-}
-
-#[derive(Deserialize, DeserializeOver2)]
-pub struct AppPanes {
 	#[serde(default)]
 	pub parent:  Style,
 	#[serde(default)]
@@ -249,10 +244,10 @@ impl Theme {
 
 impl App {
 	pub fn bg_color(&self) -> String { self.overall.bg.map(|c| c.to_string()).unwrap_or_default() }
-}
 
-impl AppPanes {
 	pub fn parent_bg(&self) -> String { self.parent.bg.map(|c| c.to_string()).unwrap_or_default() }
+
 	pub fn current_bg(&self) -> String { self.current.bg.map(|c| c.to_string()).unwrap_or_default() }
+
 	pub fn preview_bg(&self) -> String { self.preview.bg.map(|c| c.to_string()).unwrap_or_default() }
 }
diff --git a/yazi-fm/src/root.rs b/yazi-fm/src/root.rs
index 8ec5782c..c2d08189 100644
--- a/yazi-fm/src/root.rs
+++ b/yazi-fm/src/root.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ impl Widget for Root<'_> {
 
 		// Apply pane backgrounds (if configured)
 		// Skip borders: top/bottom rows and left/right edges where borders are drawn
-		let parent_bg = THEME.app.panes.parent_bg();
+		let parent_bg = THEME.app.parent_bg();
 		if !parent_bg.is_empty() {
 			if let Ok(bg_color) = parent_bg.parse::<ratatui::style::Color>() {
 				let pane = chunks[0];
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ impl Widget for Root<'_> {
 			}
 		}
 
-		let current_bg = THEME.app.panes.current_bg();
+		let current_bg = THEME.app.current_bg();
 		if !current_bg.is_empty() {
 			if let Ok(bg_color) = current_bg.parse::<ratatui::style::Color>() {
 				let pane = chunks[1];
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ impl Widget for Root<'_> {
 			}
 		}
 
-		let preview_bg = THEME.app.panes.preview_bg();
+		let preview_bg = THEME.app.preview_bg();
 		if !preview_bg.is_empty() {
 			if let Ok(bg_color) = preview_bg.parse::<ratatui::style::Color>() {
 				let pane = chunks[2];
diff --git a/yazi-plugin/src/theme/theme.rs b/yazi-plugin/src/theme/theme.rs
index 1eaedcff..ff4da914 100644
--- a/yazi-plugin/src/theme/theme.rs
+++ b/yazi-plugin/src/theme/theme.rs
@@ -34,14 +34,9 @@ fn app() -> Composer<ComposerGet, ComposerSet> {
 		let a = &THEME.app;
 		match key {
 			b"overall" => Style::from(a.overall).into_lua(lua),
-
-			b"panes" => lua
-				.create_table_from([
-					("parent", Style::from(a.panes.parent).into_lua(lua)?),
-					("current", Style::from(a.panes.current).into_lua(lua)?),
-					("preview", Style::from(a.panes.preview).into_lua(lua)?),
-				])?
-				.into_lua(lua),
+			b"parent" => Style::from(a.parent).into_lua(lua),
+			b"current" => Style::from(a.current).into_lua(lua),
+			b"preview" => Style::from(a.preview).into_lua(lua),
 			_ => Ok(Value::Nil),
 		}
 	}