diff --git a/nvim/lua/plugins/theme.lua b/nvim/lua/plugins/theme.lua
index 4cd7305..b50dcc7 100644
--- a/nvim/lua/plugins/theme.lua
+++ b/nvim/lua/plugins/theme.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,17 @@ return {
     },
     init = function()
       vim.cmd.colorscheme 'tokyonight'
+
+      -- makes some borders a lot easier to see with this theme's colours
+      vim.opt.fillchars = {
+        horiz = '━',
+        horizup = '┻',
+        horizdown = '┳',
+        vert = '┃',
+        vertleft = '┫',
+        vertright = '┣',
+        verthoriz = '╋',
+      }
     end,
   },
   -- {