diff --git a/env/wm/extras/bar/variables.bash b/env/wm/extras/bar/variables.bash
index 3fa3e2e..cb50d28 100644
--- a/env/wm/extras/bar/variables.bash
+++ b/env/wm/extras/bar/variables.bash
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export BAR_WID="wmpanel"
 export BAR_TOP_PADDING=0
 
 # the amount of pixel padding space to place below the bar
-export BAR_BOTTOM_PADDING=0
+export BAR_BOTTOM_PADDING=24
 
 # the characters to always print on the left-most side of the bar
 export BAR_LEFT_CHARS=""
diff --git a/variables.bash b/variables.bash
index af94823..b36196d 100755
--- a/variables.bash
+++ b/variables.bash
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export IMG_PATH="$NICE_HOME/img"
 export BORDER_WIDTH=0
 
 # the gap between bspwm windows
-export WINDOW_GAP=5
+export WINDOW_GAP=24
 
 # load our font variables
 source "$DOTFILES_PATH/scripts/get_x_fonts.sh"