diff --git a/applet.cpp b/applet.cpp
index ab8ad820a..34d8f5279 100644
--- a/applet.cpp
+++ b/applet.cpp
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ protected:
         Q_UNUSED(widget)
         painter->save();
         painter->setRenderHint(QPainter::Antialiasing);
-        QColor wash = Plasma::Theme::defaultTheme()->backgroundColor();
+        QColor wash = Plasma::Theme::defaultTheme()->color(Theme::BackgroundColor);
         wash.setAlphaF(.6);
         painter->fillPath(parentItem()->shape(), wash);
         painter->restore();
diff --git a/svg.cpp b/svg.cpp
index fbabe0adc..c3ee3c2af 100644
--- a/svg.cpp
+++ b/svg.cpp
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class Svg::Private
             // Apply current color scheme if the svg asks for it
             if (applyColors) {
                 QImage itmp = p.toImage();
-                KIconEffect::colorize(itmp, Theme::defaultTheme()->backgroundColor(), 1.0);
+                KIconEffect::colorize(itmp, Theme::defaultTheme()->color(Theme::BackgroundColor), 1.0);
                 p = p.fromImage(itmp);
             }
 
diff --git a/theme.cpp b/theme.cpp
index 82e7f11e9..6d9d32469 100644
--- a/theme.cpp
+++ b/theme.cpp
@@ -260,26 +260,30 @@ KSharedConfigPtr Theme::colorScheme() const
     return d->colors;
 }
 
-QColor Theme::textColor() const
+QColor Theme::color(ColorRole role) const
 {
     KColorScheme colorScheme(QPalette::Active, KColorScheme::Window, Theme::defaultTheme()->colorScheme());
-    return colorScheme.foreground(KColorScheme::NormalText).color();
+
+    switch (role) {
+        case TextColor:
+            return colorScheme.foreground(KColorScheme::NormalText).color();
+            break;
+
+        case BackgroundColor:
+            return colorScheme.background().color();
+            break;
+    }
 }
 
-QColor Theme::backgroundColor() const
-{
-    KColorScheme colorScheme(QPalette::Active, KColorScheme::Window, Theme::defaultTheme()->colorScheme());
-    return colorScheme.background().color();
-}
-
-void Theme::setFont(const QFont &font)
+void Theme::setFont(const QFont &font, FontRole role)
 {
+    Q_UNUSED(role)
     d->generalFont = font;
 }
 
-QFont Theme::font() const
+QFont Theme::font(FontRole role) const
 {
-    //TODO: allow this to be overridden with a plasma specific font?
+    Q_UNUSED(role)
     return d->generalFont;
 }
 
diff --git a/theme.h b/theme.h
index d19969640..380c8b702 100644
--- a/theme.h
+++ b/theme.h
@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Theme : public QObject
     Q_PROPERTY( QString themeName READ themeName )
 
     public:
+        enum ColorRole
+        {
+            TextColor = 0 /**<  the text color to be used by items resting on the background */,
+            BackgroundColor /**< the default background color */
+        };
+
+        enum FontRole
+        {
+            DefaultFont = 0 /**< The standard text font */
+        };
+
         /**
          * Singleton pattern accessor
          **/
@@ -106,24 +117,26 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Theme : public QObject
 
         /**
          * Returns the text color to be used by items resting on the background
+         *
+         * @arg role which role (usage pattern) to get the color for
          */
-        Q_INVOKABLE QColor textColor() const;
-
-        /**
-         * Returns the background color to be used by items resting on the background
-         */
-        Q_INVOKABLE QColor backgroundColor() const;
+        Q_INVOKABLE QColor color(ColorRole role) const;
 
         /**
          * Sets the default font to be used with themed items. Defaults to
          * the application wide default font.
+         *
+         * @arg font the new font
+         * @arg role which role (usage pattern) to set the font for
          */
-        Q_INVOKABLE void setFont(const QFont &font);
+        Q_INVOKABLE void setFont(const QFont &font, FontRole role = DefaultFont);
 
         /**
          * Returns the font to be used by themed items
+         *
+         * @arg role which role (usage pattern) to get the font for
          */
-        Q_INVOKABLE QFont font() const;
+        Q_INVOKABLE QFont font(FontRole role) const;
 
         /**
          * Returns the font metrics for the font to be used by themed items
diff --git a/widgets/icon.cpp b/widgets/icon.cpp
index ee1b191ec..266c3c679 100644
--- a/widgets/icon.cpp
+++ b/widgets/icon.cpp
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ Icon::Private::~Private()
 
 void Icon::readColors() 
 {
-    d->textColor = Plasma::Theme::defaultTheme()->textColor();
-    d->shadowColor = Plasma::Theme::defaultTheme()->backgroundColor();
+    d->textColor = Plasma::Theme::defaultTheme()->color(Theme::TextColor);
+    d->shadowColor = Plasma::Theme::defaultTheme()->color(Theme::BackgroundColor);
 
 }