diff --git a/baseelement.go b/baseelement.go
index 2b0d2bd..755fc3d 100644
--- a/baseelement.go
+++ b/baseelement.go
@@ -16,27 +16,27 @@ type BaseElement struct {
 	Token  string
 	Prefix string
 	Suffix string
-	Style  *ElementStyle
+	Style  ElementStyle
 }
 
-func color(c string) (uint8, error) {
-	if len(c) == 0 {
+func color(c *string) (uint8, error) {
+	if c == nil || len(*c) == 0 {
 		return 0, errors.New("Invalid color")
 	}
-	if c[0] == '#' {
-		i, err := hexToANSIColor(c)
+	if (*c)[0] == '#' {
+		i, err := hexToANSIColor(*c)
 		return uint8(i), err
 	}
-	i, err := strconv.Atoi(c)
+	i, err := strconv.Atoi(*c)
 	return uint8(i), err
 }
 
-func colorSeq(c string) (string, error) {
-	if len(c) == 0 {
+func colorSeq(c *string) (string, error) {
+	if c == nil || len(*c) == 0 {
 		return "", errors.New("Invalid color")
 	}
 
-	col, err := colorful.Hex(c)
+	col, err := colorful.Hex(*c)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
@@ -44,13 +44,13 @@ func colorSeq(c string) (string, error) {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%d;%d;%dm", uint8(col.R*255), uint8(col.G*255), uint8(col.B*255)), nil
 }
 
-func renderText(w io.Writer, rules *ElementStyle, s string) {
+func renderText(w io.Writer, rules ElementStyle, s string) {
 	if len(s) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
 
 	// FIXME: ugly true-color ANSI support hack
-	if rules != nil && os.Getenv("COLORTERM") == "truecolor" {
+	if os.Getenv("COLORTERM") == "truecolor" {
 		bg, err := colorSeq(rules.BackgroundColor)
 		if err == nil {
 			s = "\x1b[48;2;" + bg + s
@@ -63,37 +63,38 @@ func renderText(w io.Writer, rules *ElementStyle, s string) {
 
 	out := aurora.Reset(s)
 
-	if rules != nil {
+	if rules.Color != nil {
 		i, err := color(rules.Color)
 		if err == nil {
 			out = out.Index(i)
 		}
-		i, err = color(rules.BackgroundColor)
+	}
+	if rules.BackgroundColor != nil {
+		i, err := color(rules.BackgroundColor)
 		if err == nil {
 			out = out.BgIndex(i)
 		}
-
-		if rules.Underline != nil && *rules.Underline {
-			out = out.Underline()
-		}
-		if rules.Bold != nil && *rules.Bold {
-			out = out.Bold()
-		}
-		if rules.Italic != nil && *rules.Italic {
-			out = out.Italic()
-		}
-		if rules.CrossedOut != nil && *rules.CrossedOut {
-			out = out.CrossedOut()
-		}
-		if rules.Overlined != nil && *rules.Overlined {
-			out = out.Overlined()
-		}
-		if rules.Inverse != nil && *rules.Inverse {
-			out = out.Reverse()
-		}
-		if rules.Blink != nil && *rules.Blink {
-			out = out.Blink()
-		}
+	}
+	if rules.Underline != nil && *rules.Underline {
+		out = out.Underline()
+	}
+	if rules.Bold != nil && *rules.Bold {
+		out = out.Bold()
+	}
+	if rules.Italic != nil && *rules.Italic {
+		out = out.Italic()
+	}
+	if rules.CrossedOut != nil && *rules.CrossedOut {
+		out = out.CrossedOut()
+	}
+	if rules.Overlined != nil && *rules.Overlined {
+		out = out.Overlined()
+	}
+	if rules.Inverse != nil && *rules.Inverse {
+		out = out.Reverse()
+	}
+	if rules.Blink != nil && *rules.Blink {
+		out = out.Blink()
 	}
 
 	_, _ = w.Write([]byte(out.String()))
@@ -106,12 +107,10 @@ func (e *BaseElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error
 	}()
 
 	rules := tr.blockStack.With(e.Style)
-	if rules != nil {
-		renderText(w, rules, rules.Prefix)
-		defer func() {
-			renderText(w, rules, rules.Suffix)
-		}()
-	}
+	renderText(w, rules, rules.Prefix)
+	defer func() {
+		renderText(w, rules, rules.Suffix)
+	}()
 
 	renderText(w, rules, e.Token)
 	return nil
diff --git a/blockstack.go b/blockstack.go
index 9bf87e1..94808d7 100644
--- a/blockstack.go
+++ b/blockstack.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 type BlockElement struct {
 	Block *bytes.Buffer
-	Style *ElementStyle
+	Style ElementStyle
 }
 
 type BlockStack []BlockElement
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func (s BlockStack) Indent() uint {
 	var i uint
 
 	for _, v := range s {
-		if v.Style == nil || v.Style.Indent == nil {
+		if v.Style.Indent == nil {
 			continue
 		}
 		i += *v.Style.Indent
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (s BlockStack) Margin() uint {
 	var i uint
 
 	for _, v := range s {
-		if v.Style == nil || v.Style.Margin == nil {
+		if v.Style.Margin == nil {
 			continue
 		}
 		i += *v.Style.Margin
@@ -69,6 +69,6 @@ func (s BlockStack) Current() BlockElement {
 	return s[len(s)-1]
 }
 
-func (s BlockStack) With(child *ElementStyle) *ElementStyle {
+func (s BlockStack) With(child ElementStyle) ElementStyle {
 	return cascadeStyle(s.Current().Style, child, true)
 }
diff --git a/codeblock.go b/codeblock.go
index 06de475..9bb250f 100644
--- a/codeblock.go
+++ b/codeblock.go
@@ -13,19 +13,16 @@ type CodeBlockElement struct {
 }
 
 func (e *CodeBlockElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error {
-	var theme string
 	var indent uint
 	var margin uint
 	rules := tr.style[CodeBlock]
-	if rules != nil {
-		if rules.Indent != nil {
-			indent = *rules.Indent
-		}
-		if rules.Margin != nil {
-			margin = *rules.Margin
-		}
-		theme = rules.Theme
+	if rules.Indent != nil {
+		indent = *rules.Indent
 	}
+	if rules.Margin != nil {
+		margin = *rules.Margin
+	}
+	theme := rules.Theme
 
 	iw := &IndentWriter{
 		Indent: indent + margin,
diff --git a/document.go b/document.go
index 85000ae..15d93a3 100644
--- a/document.go
+++ b/document.go
@@ -18,26 +18,22 @@ func (e *DocumentElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) e
 	}
 	tr.blockStack.Push(be)
 
-	if rules != nil {
-		renderText(tr.blockStack.Current().Block, rules, rules.Prefix)
-	}
+	renderText(tr.blockStack.Current().Block, rules, rules.Prefix)
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (e *DocumentElement) Finish(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error {
 	var indent uint
 	var margin uint
-	var suffix string
 	rules := tr.style[Document]
-	if rules != nil {
-		if rules.Indent != nil {
-			indent = *rules.Indent
-		}
-		if rules.Margin != nil {
-			margin = *rules.Margin
-		}
-		suffix = rules.Suffix
+	if rules.Indent != nil {
+		indent = *rules.Indent
 	}
+	if rules.Margin != nil {
+		margin = *rules.Margin
+	}
+	suffix := rules.Suffix
+
 	pw := &PaddingWriter{
 		Padding: uint(tr.WordWrap) - margin,
 		PadFunc: func(wr io.Writer) {
diff --git a/gold.go b/gold.go
index 373d3fd..c0d78c1 100644
--- a/gold.go
+++ b/gold.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ type TermRenderer struct {
 	BaseURL  string
 	WordWrap int
 
-	style      map[StyleType]*ElementStyle
+	style      map[StyleType]ElementStyle
 	blockStack BlockStack
 	table      TableElement
 }
@@ -56,13 +56,13 @@ func NewTermRenderer(stylePath string) (*TermRenderer, error) {
 }
 
 func NewTermRendererFromBytes(b []byte) (*TermRenderer, error) {
-	e := make(map[string]*ElementStyle)
+	e := make(map[string]ElementStyle)
 	err := json.Unmarshal(b, &e)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	tr := &TermRenderer{}
-	tr.style = make(map[StyleType]*ElementStyle)
+	tr.style = make(map[StyleType]ElementStyle)
 
 	for k, v := range e {
 		t, err := keyToType(k)
diff --git a/heading.go b/heading.go
index b2cc0d4..8f1cbec 100644
--- a/heading.go
+++ b/heading.go
@@ -32,13 +32,11 @@ func (e *HeadingElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) er
 		rules = cascadeStyles(false, rules, tr.style[H6])
 	}
 
-	if rules != nil {
-		if rules.Indent != nil {
-			indent = *rules.Indent
-		}
-		if rules.Margin != nil {
-			margin = *rules.Margin
-		}
+	if rules.Indent != nil {
+		indent = *rules.Indent
+	}
+	if rules.Margin != nil {
+		margin = *rules.Margin
 	}
 
 	iw := &IndentWriter{
diff --git a/link.go b/link.go
index 63887ab..c92011f 100644
--- a/link.go
+++ b/link.go
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ func (e *LinkElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error
 	}
 
 	if len(node.LinkData.Destination) > 0 {
-		style := *tr.style[Link]
 		pre := " "
+		style := tr.style[Link]
 		if !textRendered {
 			pre = ""
 			style.Prefix = ""
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (e *LinkElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error
 		el := &BaseElement{
 			Token:  resolveRelativeURL(tr.BaseURL, string(node.LinkData.Destination)),
 			Prefix: pre,
-			Style:  &style,
+			Style:  style,
 		}
 		err := el.Render(w, node, tr)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/list.go b/list.go
index 82b4d19..c2ab7dc 100644
--- a/list.go
+++ b/list.go
@@ -29,17 +29,14 @@ func (e *ListElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error
 func (e *ListElement) Finish(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error {
 	var indent uint
 	var margin uint
-	var suffix string
 	rules := tr.blockStack.Current().Style
-	if rules != nil {
-		if rules.Indent != nil {
-			indent = *rules.Indent
-		}
-		if rules.Margin != nil {
-			margin = *rules.Margin
-		}
-		suffix = rules.Suffix
+	if rules.Indent != nil {
+		indent = *rules.Indent
 	}
+	if rules.Margin != nil {
+		margin = *rules.Margin
+	}
+	suffix := rules.Suffix
 	renderText(tr.blockStack.Current().Block, rules, suffix)
 
 	pw := &PaddingWriter{
diff --git a/paragraph.go b/paragraph.go
index d5611bd..788af44 100644
--- a/paragraph.go
+++ b/paragraph.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ type ParagraphElement struct {
 }
 
 func (e *ParagraphElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error {
-	var rules *ElementStyle
+	var rules ElementStyle
 	if node.Parent != nil && node.Parent.Type == bf.Item {
 		// list item
 		rules = tr.style[List]
@@ -27,31 +27,26 @@ func (e *ParagraphElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer)
 		tr.blockStack.Push(be)
 	}
 
-	if rules != nil {
-		renderText(w, tr.blockStack.Current().Style, rules.Prefix)
-	}
+	renderText(w, tr.blockStack.Current().Style, rules.Prefix)
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (e *ParagraphElement) Finish(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) error {
 	var indent uint
 	var margin uint
-	var suffix string
 	rules := tr.blockStack.Current().Style
 	if node.Parent != nil && node.Parent.Type == bf.Item {
 		// remove indent & margin for list items
 		rules = tr.blockStack.Current().Style
 	}
 
-	if rules != nil {
-		if rules.Indent != nil {
-			indent = *rules.Indent
-		}
-		if rules.Margin != nil {
-			margin = *rules.Margin
-		}
-		suffix = rules.Suffix
+	if rules.Indent != nil {
+		indent = *rules.Indent
 	}
+	if rules.Margin != nil {
+		margin = *rules.Margin
+	}
+	suffix := rules.Suffix
 	renderText(tr.blockStack.Current().Block, rules, suffix)
 
 	pw := &PaddingWriter{
diff --git a/style.go b/style.go
index 39a2d86..45d12ee 100644
--- a/style.go
+++ b/style.go
@@ -45,26 +45,26 @@ const (
 )
 
 type ElementStyle struct {
-	Color           string `json:"color"`
-	BackgroundColor string `json:"background_color"`
-	Underline       *bool  `json:"underline"`
-	Bold            *bool  `json:"bold"`
-	Italic          *bool  `json:"italic"`
-	CrossedOut      *bool  `json:"crossed_out"`
-	Faint           *bool  `json:"faint"`
-	Conceal         *bool  `json:"conceal"`
-	Overlined       *bool  `json:"overlined"`
-	Inverse         *bool  `json:"inverse"`
-	Blink           *bool  `json:"blink"`
-	Indent          *uint  `json:"indent"`
-	Margin          *uint  `json:"margin"`
-	Theme           string `json:"theme"`
-	Prefix          string `json:"prefix"`
-	Suffix          string `json:"suffix"`
+	Color           *string `json:"color"`
+	BackgroundColor *string `json:"background_color"`
+	Underline       *bool   `json:"underline"`
+	Bold            *bool   `json:"bold"`
+	Italic          *bool   `json:"italic"`
+	CrossedOut      *bool   `json:"crossed_out"`
+	Faint           *bool   `json:"faint"`
+	Conceal         *bool   `json:"conceal"`
+	Overlined       *bool   `json:"overlined"`
+	Inverse         *bool   `json:"inverse"`
+	Blink           *bool   `json:"blink"`
+	Indent          *uint   `json:"indent"`
+	Margin          *uint   `json:"margin"`
+	Theme           string  `json:"theme"`
+	Prefix          string  `json:"prefix"`
+	Suffix          string  `json:"suffix"`
 }
 
-func cascadeStyles(onlyColors bool, s ...*ElementStyle) *ElementStyle {
-	var r *ElementStyle
+func cascadeStyles(onlyColors bool, s ...ElementStyle) ElementStyle {
+	var r ElementStyle
 
 	for _, v := range s {
 		r = cascadeStyle(r, v, onlyColors)
@@ -72,15 +72,8 @@ func cascadeStyles(onlyColors bool, s ...*ElementStyle) *ElementStyle {
 	return r
 }
 
-func cascadeStyle(parent *ElementStyle, child *ElementStyle, onlyColors bool) *ElementStyle {
-	if parent == nil {
-		return child
-	}
-
-	s := ElementStyle{}
-	if child != nil {
-		s = *child
-	}
+func cascadeStyle(parent ElementStyle, child ElementStyle, onlyColors bool) ElementStyle {
+	s := child
 
 	s.Color = parent.Color
 	s.BackgroundColor = parent.BackgroundColor
@@ -99,50 +92,47 @@ func cascadeStyle(parent *ElementStyle, child *ElementStyle, onlyColors bool) *E
 		s.Blink = parent.Blink
 	}
 
-	if child != nil {
-		if child.Color != "" {
-			s.Color = child.Color
-		}
-		if child.BackgroundColor != "" {
-			s.BackgroundColor = child.BackgroundColor
-		}
-
-		if child.Indent != nil {
-			s.Indent = child.Indent
-		}
-		if child.Margin != nil {
-			s.Margin = child.Margin
-		}
-		if child.Underline != nil {
-			s.Underline = child.Underline
-		}
-		if child.Bold != nil {
-			s.Bold = child.Bold
-		}
-		if child.Italic != nil {
-			s.Italic = child.Italic
-		}
-		if child.CrossedOut != nil {
-			s.CrossedOut = child.CrossedOut
-		}
-		if child.Faint != nil {
-			s.Faint = child.Faint
-		}
-		if child.Conceal != nil {
-			s.Conceal = child.Conceal
-		}
-		if child.Overlined != nil {
-			s.Overlined = child.Overlined
-		}
-		if child.Inverse != nil {
-			s.Inverse = child.Inverse
-		}
-		if child.Blink != nil {
-			s.Blink = child.Blink
-		}
+	if child.Color != nil {
+		s.Color = child.Color
+	}
+	if child.BackgroundColor != nil {
+		s.BackgroundColor = child.BackgroundColor
+	}
+	if child.Indent != nil {
+		s.Indent = child.Indent
+	}
+	if child.Margin != nil {
+		s.Margin = child.Margin
+	}
+	if child.Underline != nil {
+		s.Underline = child.Underline
+	}
+	if child.Bold != nil {
+		s.Bold = child.Bold
+	}
+	if child.Italic != nil {
+		s.Italic = child.Italic
+	}
+	if child.CrossedOut != nil {
+		s.CrossedOut = child.CrossedOut
+	}
+	if child.Faint != nil {
+		s.Faint = child.Faint
+	}
+	if child.Conceal != nil {
+		s.Conceal = child.Conceal
+	}
+	if child.Overlined != nil {
+		s.Overlined = child.Overlined
+	}
+	if child.Inverse != nil {
+		s.Inverse = child.Inverse
+	}
+	if child.Blink != nil {
+		s.Blink = child.Blink
 	}
 
-	return &s
+	return s
 }
 
 func hexToANSIColor(h string) (int, error) {
diff --git a/table.go b/table.go
index c62ab2b..b77c916 100644
--- a/table.go
+++ b/table.go
@@ -26,14 +26,13 @@ func (e *TableElement) Render(w io.Writer, node *bf.Node, tr *TermRenderer) erro
 	var indent uint
 	var margin uint
 	rules := tr.style[Table]
-	if rules != nil {
-		if rules.Indent != nil {
-			indent = *rules.Indent
-		}
-		if rules.Margin != nil {
-			margin = *rules.Margin
-		}
+	if rules.Indent != nil {
+		indent = *rules.Indent
 	}
+	if rules.Margin != nil {
+		margin = *rules.Margin
+	}
+
 	iw := &IndentWriter{
 		Indent: indent + margin,
 		IndentFunc: func(wr io.Writer) {