diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index ce84642..9e109fd 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ export(primitive_line)
 export(primitive_spacer)
 export(primitive_ticks)
 export(primitive_title)
+export(theme_guide)
 import(ggplot2)
 import(grid)
 import(gtable)
diff --git a/R/theme_registry.R b/R/theme_registry.R
deleted file mode 100644
index 9ef14df..0000000
--- a/R/theme_registry.R
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-register_gguidance_elements <- function() {
-  register_theme_elements(
-    gguidance.bracket.size = unit(2, "mm"),
-    gguidance.bracket = element_line(),
-    gguidance.box = element_rect(colour = "white"),
-    gguidance.legend.minor.ticks = element_line(),
-    gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length = rel(0.75),
-    gguidance.legend.mini.ticks = element_line(),
-    gguidance.legend.mini.ticks.length = rel(0.5),
-    gguidance.legend.subtitle = element_text(size = rel(0.9)),
-    gguidance.legend.subtitle.position = "top",
-    gguidance.legend.group.spacing = rel(2),
-    gguidance.axis.mini.ticks = element_line(),
-    gguidance.axis.mini.ticks.length = rel(0.5),
-    gguidance.guide.spacing = unit(2.25, "pt"),
-    gguidance.side.titles = element_text(margin = margin(5.5, 5.5, 5.5, 5.5)),
-    gguidance.side.titles.position = c("left", "top"),
-    element_tree = list(
-      gguidance.bracket.size = el_def("unit"),
-      gguidance.bracket = el_line("line"),
-      gguidance.box = el_def("element_rect", "strip.background"),
-      gguidance.legend.minor.ticks = el_line("legend.ticks"),
-      gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length = el_unit("legend.ticks.length"),
-      gguidance.legend.mini.ticks = el_line("gguidance.legend.minor.ticks"),
-      gguidance.legend.mini.ticks.length = el_unit("gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length"),
-      gguidance.legend.subtitle = el_def("element_text", "legend.title"),
-      gguidance.legend.subtitle.position = el_def("character"),
-      gguidance.legend.group.spacing = el_unit("legend.key.spacing"),
-      gguidance.axis.mini.ticks = el_line("axis.ticks"),
-      gguidance.axis.mini.ticks.length = el_unit("axis.minor.ticks.length"),
-      gguidance.guide.spacing = el_unit("axis.ticks.length"),
-      gguidance.axis.subtitle = el_def("element_text", "axis.text"),
-      gguidance.axis.subtitle.position = el_def("character")
-    )
-  )
-}
-
-on_load(register_gguidance_elements())
-
-el_unit <- function(...) el_def(c("unit", "rel"), ...)
-el_line <- function(...) el_def("element_line",   ...)
diff --git a/R/themes.R b/R/themes.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cd39c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/themes.R
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+
+#' Theme wrapper for guides
+#'
+#' This function has shorthand names for theme elements relating to guides. It
+#' is intended to be used as the `guide_*(theme)` argument. Because of this
+#' intent, and due to legends and axes having mutually exclusive theme elements,
+#' this function sets the elements for both simultaneously.
+#'
+#' @param text An [`<element_text>`][ggplot2::element_text] setting both
+#'   `legend.text` and `axis.text` elements.
+#' @param line An [`<element_line>`][ggplot2::element_line] setting both
+#'   `legend.axis.line` and `axis.line` elements.
+#' @param title An [`<element_text>`][ggplot2::element_text] setting both
+#'   `legend.title` and `axis.title` elements.
+#' @param subtitle An [`<element_text>`][ggplot2::element_text] setting both
+#'   `gguidance.legend.subtitle` and `gguidance.axis.subtitle` elements.
+#' @param text.position,title.position,subtitle.position One of `"top"`,
+#'   `"right"`, `"bottom"` or `"right"` setting the following elements:
+#'
+#'   * `text.position`: sets only `legend.text.position`.
+#'   * `title.position`: sets only `legend.title.position`.
+#'   * `subtitle.position` sets both `gguidance.legend.subtitle.position` and
+#'   `gguidance.axis.subtitle.position`
+#' @param ticks An [`<element_line>`][ggplot2::element_line] setting both
+#'   `axis.ticks` and `legend.ticks` elements.
+#' @param minor.ticks An [`<element_line>`][ggplot2::element_line] setting
+#'   `gguidance.legend.minor.ticks` and all 6 of the
+#'   `axis.ticks.minor.{r/theta/x.top/x.bottom/y.left/y.right}` elements.
+#' @param mini.ticks An [`<element_line>`][ggplot2::element_line] setting both
+#'   `gguidance.legend.mini.ticks` and `gguidance.axis.mini.ticks` elements.
+#' @param ticks.length,minor.ticks.length,mini.ticks.length A
+#'   [`<unit[1]>`][grid::unit()] setting the following elements:
+#'
+#'   * `ticks.length`: sets both `legend.ticks.length` and `axis.ticks.length`.
+#'   * `minor.ticks.length` sets both `axis.minor.ticks.length` and
+#'   `gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length`.
+#'   * `mini.ticks.length` sets both `gguidance.axis.mini.ticks.length` and
+#'   `gguidance.legend.mini.ticks.length`.
+#' @param spacing A [`<unit[1]>`][grid::unit()] setting the
+#'   `gguidance.guide.spacing` theme element.
+#' @param group.spacing A [`<unit[1]>`][grid::unit()] setting the
+#'   `gguidance.legend.group.spacing` element.
+#' @param key An [`<element_rect>`][ggplot2::element_rect] setting the
+#'   `legend.key` element.
+#' @param key.size,key.width,key.height A [`<unit>`][grid::unit()] setting the
+#'   `legend.key.size`, `legend.key.width` and `legend.key.height` elements
+#'   respectively.
+#' @param key.spacing,key.spacing.x,key.spacing.y A [`<unit[1]>`][grid::unit()]
+#'   setting the `legend.key.spacing`, `legend.key.spacing.x` and
+#'   `legend.key.spacing.y` elements respectively.
+#' @param frame An [`<element_rect>`][ggplot2::element_rect] setting the
+#'   `legend.frame` element.
+#' @param byrow A `<logical[1]>` setting the `legend.byrow` element.
+#' @param background An [`<element_rect>`][ggplot2::element_rect] setting the
+#'   `legend.background` element.
+#' @param margin A [`<margin>`][ggplot2::margin] setting the `legend.margin`
+#'   element.
+#' @param bracket An [`<element_line>`][ggplot2::element_line] setting the
+#'   `gguidance.bracket` element.
+#' @param bracket.size A [`<unit[1]>`][grid::unit()] setting the
+#'   `gguidance.bracket.size` element.
+#' @param box An [`<element_rect>`][ggplot2::element_rect] setting the
+#'   `gguidance.box` element.
+#'
+#' @return A `<theme>` object that can be provided to a guide.
+#' @export
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' red_ticks <- theme_guide(ticks = element_line(colour = "red", linewidth = 0.5))
+#'
+#' # Both axis and colourbar gain red ticks
+#' ggplot(mpg, aes(displ, hwy, colour = cty)) +
+#'   geom_point() +
+#'   guides(
+#'     colour = guide_colourbar(theme = red_ticks),
+#'     x = guide_axis(theme = red_ticks)
+#'   )
+theme_guide <- function(
+    text = NULL,
+    line = NULL,
+
+    title = NULL,
+    subtitle = NULL,
+
+    text.position = NULL,
+    title.position = NULL,
+    subtitle.position = NULL,
+
+    ticks = NULL,
+    minor.ticks = NULL,
+    mini.ticks = NULL,
+
+    ticks.length = NULL,
+    minor.ticks.length = NULL,
+    mini.ticks.length = NULL,
+
+    spacing = NULL,
+    group.spacing = NULL,
+
+    key = NULL,
+    key.size = NULL,
+    key.width = NULL,
+    key.height = NULL,
+    key.spacing = NULL,
+    key.spacing.x = NULL,
+    key.spacing.y = NULL,
+
+    frame = NULL,
+    byrow = NULL,
+    background = NULL,
+    margin = NULL,
+
+    bracket = NULL,
+    bracket.size = NULL,
+    box = NULL
+) {
+
+  theme <- list(
+    legend.text = text,
+    axis.text = text,
+
+    axis.line = line,
+    legend.axis.line = line,
+
+    legend.title = title,
+    axis.title = title,
+
+    gguidance.legend.subtitle = subtitle,
+    gguidance.axis.subtitle = subtitle,
+
+    legend.title.position = title.position,
+    legend.text.position = text.position,
+
+    gguidance.legend.subtitle.position = subtitle.position,
+    gguidance.axis.subtitle.position = subtitle.position,
+
+    legend.ticks = ticks,
+    axis.ticks = ticks,
+
+    legend.ticks.length = ticks.length,
+    axis.ticks.length = ticks.length,
+
+    gguidance.legend.minor.ticks = minor.ticks,
+    axis.minor.ticks.r = minor.ticks,
+    axis.minor.ticks.theta = minor.ticks,
+    axis.minor.ticks.x.top = minor.ticks,
+    axis.minor.ticks.x.bottom = minor.ticks,
+    axis.minor.ticks.y.left = minor.ticks,
+    axis.minor.ticks.y.right = minor.ticks,
+
+    gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.lenth = minor.ticks.length,
+    axis.minor.ticks.length = minor.ticks.length,
+
+    gguidance.axis.mini.ticks = mini.ticks,
+    gguidance.legend.mini.ticks = mini.ticks,
+
+    gguidance.axis.mini.ticks.length = mini.ticks.length,
+    gguidance.legend.mini.ticks.length = mini.ticks.length,
+
+    gguidance.guide.spacing = spacing,
+    gguidance.legend.group.spacing = group.spacing,
+
+    legend.key = key,
+    legend.key.spacing = key.spacing,
+    legend.key.spacing.x = key.spacing.x,
+    legend.key.spacing.y = key.spacing.y,
+
+    legend.frame = frame,
+    legend.byrow = byrow,
+    legend.background = background,
+    legend.margin = margin,
+
+    gguidance.bracket = bracket,
+    gguidance.bracket.size = bracket.size,
+    gguidance.box = box
+  )
+  theme <- theme[lengths(theme) > 0]
+  theme(!!!theme)
+}
+
+
+register_gguidance_elements <- function() {
+  register_theme_elements(
+    gguidance.bracket.size = unit(2, "mm"),
+    gguidance.bracket = element_line(),
+    gguidance.box = element_rect(colour = "white"),
+    gguidance.legend.minor.ticks = element_line(),
+    gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length = rel(0.75),
+    gguidance.legend.mini.ticks = element_line(),
+    gguidance.legend.mini.ticks.length = rel(0.5),
+    gguidance.legend.subtitle = element_text(size = rel(0.9)),
+    gguidance.legend.subtitle.position = "top",
+    gguidance.legend.group.spacing = rel(2),
+    gguidance.axis.mini.ticks = element_line(),
+    gguidance.axis.mini.ticks.length = rel(0.5),
+    gguidance.guide.spacing = unit(2.25, "pt"),
+    gguidance.side.titles = element_text(margin = margin(5.5, 5.5, 5.5, 5.5)),
+    gguidance.side.titles.position = c("left", "top"),
+    element_tree = list(
+      gguidance.bracket.size = el_def("unit"),
+      gguidance.bracket = el_line("line"),
+      gguidance.box = el_def("element_rect", "strip.background"),
+      gguidance.legend.minor.ticks = el_line("legend.ticks"),
+      gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length = el_unit("legend.ticks.length"),
+      gguidance.legend.mini.ticks = el_line("gguidance.legend.minor.ticks"),
+      gguidance.legend.mini.ticks.length = el_unit("gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length"),
+      gguidance.legend.subtitle = el_def("element_text", "legend.title"),
+      gguidance.legend.subtitle.position = el_def("character"),
+      gguidance.legend.group.spacing = el_unit("legend.key.spacing"),
+      gguidance.axis.mini.ticks = el_line("axis.ticks"),
+      gguidance.axis.mini.ticks.length = el_unit("axis.minor.ticks.length"),
+      gguidance.guide.spacing = el_unit("axis.ticks.length"),
+      gguidance.axis.subtitle = el_def("element_text", "axis.text"),
+      gguidance.axis.subtitle.position = el_def("character")
+    )
+  )
+}
+
+on_load(register_gguidance_elements())
+
+el_unit <- function(...) el_def(c("unit", "rel"), ...)
+el_line <- function(...) el_def("element_line",   ...)
diff --git a/man/theme_guide.Rd b/man/theme_guide.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa6b893
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/theme_guide.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/themes.R
+\name{theme_guide}
+\alias{theme_guide}
+\title{Theme wrapper for guides}
+\usage{
+theme_guide(
+  text = NULL,
+  line = NULL,
+  title = NULL,
+  subtitle = NULL,
+  text.position = NULL,
+  title.position = NULL,
+  subtitle.position = NULL,
+  ticks = NULL,
+  minor.ticks = NULL,
+  mini.ticks = NULL,
+  ticks.length = NULL,
+  minor.ticks.length = NULL,
+  mini.ticks.length = NULL,
+  spacing = NULL,
+  group.spacing = NULL,
+  key = NULL,
+  key.size = NULL,
+  key.width = NULL,
+  key.height = NULL,
+  key.spacing = NULL,
+  key.spacing.x = NULL,
+  key.spacing.y = NULL,
+  frame = NULL,
+  byrow = NULL,
+  background = NULL,
+  margin = NULL,
+  bracket = NULL,
+  bracket.size = NULL,
+  box = NULL
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{text}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_text>}} setting both
+\code{legend.text} and \code{axis.text} elements.}
+
+\item{line}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_line>}} setting both
+\code{legend.axis.line} and \code{axis.line} elements.}
+
+\item{title}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_text>}} setting both
+\code{legend.title} and \code{axis.title} elements.}
+
+\item{subtitle}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_text>}} setting both
+\code{gguidance.legend.subtitle} and \code{gguidance.axis.subtitle} elements.}
+
+\item{text.position, title.position, subtitle.position}{One of \code{"top"},
+\code{"right"}, \code{"bottom"} or \code{"right"} setting the following elements:
+\itemize{
+\item \code{text.position}: sets only \code{legend.text.position}.
+\item \code{title.position}: sets only \code{legend.title.position}.
+\item \code{subtitle.position} sets both \code{gguidance.legend.subtitle.position} and
+\code{gguidance.axis.subtitle.position}
+}}
+
+\item{ticks}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_line>}} setting both
+\code{axis.ticks} and \code{legend.ticks} elements.}
+
+\item{minor.ticks}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_line>}} setting
+\code{gguidance.legend.minor.ticks} and all 6 of the
+\verb{axis.ticks.minor.\{r/theta/x.top/x.bottom/y.left/y.right\}} elements.}
+
+\item{mini.ticks}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_line>}} setting both
+\code{gguidance.legend.mini.ticks} and \code{gguidance.axis.mini.ticks} elements.}
+
+\item{ticks.length, minor.ticks.length, mini.ticks.length}{A
+[\verb{<unit[1]>}][grid::unit()] setting the following elements:
+\itemize{
+\item \code{ticks.length}: sets both \code{legend.ticks.length} and \code{axis.ticks.length}.
+\item \code{minor.ticks.length} sets both \code{axis.minor.ticks.length} and
+\code{gguidance.legend.minor.ticks.length}.
+\item \code{mini.ticks.length} sets both \code{gguidance.axis.mini.ticks.length} and
+\code{gguidance.legend.mini.ticks.length}.
+}}
+
+\item{spacing}{A [\verb{<unit[1]>}][grid::unit()] setting the
+\code{gguidance.guide.spacing} theme element.}
+
+\item{group.spacing}{A [\verb{<unit[1]>}][grid::unit()] setting the
+\code{gguidance.legend.group.spacing} element.}
+
+\item{key}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_rect>}} setting the
+\code{legend.key} element.}
+
+\item{key.size, key.width, key.height}{A \code{\link[grid:unit]{<unit>}} setting the
+\code{legend.key.size}, \code{legend.key.width} and \code{legend.key.height} elements
+respectively.}
+
+\item{key.spacing, key.spacing.x, key.spacing.y}{A [\verb{<unit[1]>}][grid::unit()]
+setting the \code{legend.key.spacing}, \code{legend.key.spacing.x} and
+\code{legend.key.spacing.y} elements respectively.}
+
+\item{frame}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_rect>}} setting the
+\code{legend.frame} element.}
+
+\item{byrow}{A \verb{<logical[1]>} setting the \code{legend.byrow} element.}
+
+\item{background}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_rect>}} setting the
+\code{legend.background} element.}
+
+\item{margin}{A \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<margin>}} setting the \code{legend.margin}
+element.}
+
+\item{bracket}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_line>}} setting the
+\code{gguidance.bracket} element.}
+
+\item{bracket.size}{A [\verb{<unit[1]>}][grid::unit()] setting the
+\code{gguidance.bracket.size} element.}
+
+\item{box}{An \code{\link[ggplot2:element]{<element_rect>}} setting the
+\code{gguidance.box} element.}
+}
+\value{
+A \verb{<theme>} object that can be provided to a guide.
+}
+\description{
+This function has shorthand names for theme elements relating to guides. It
+is intended to be used as the \code{guide_*(theme)} argument. Because of this
+intent, and due to legends and axes having mutually exclusive theme elements,
+this function sets the elements for both simultaneously.
+}
+\examples{
+red_ticks <- theme_guide(ticks = element_line(colour = "red", linewidth = 0.5))
+
+# Both axis and colourbar gain red ticks
+ggplot(mpg, aes(displ, hwy, colour = cty)) +
+  geom_point() +
+  guides(
+    colour = guide_colourbar(theme = red_ticks),
+    x = guide_axis(theme = red_ticks)
+  )
+}