diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 38e4180..338c30b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-*.autosave.xopp
-*~
+config.lua
diff --git a/config.lua.example b/config.lua.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f037dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.lua.example
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+-- Configuration for vi-xournalpp plugin
+-- Copy this file to config.lua and customize
+
+local layouts = require('layouts')
+
+-- Set your keyboard layout: 'qwerty', 'dvorak', or 'colemak'
+layouts.active_layout = 'qwerty'
+
+-- Optional: Override specific keys
+-- layouts.key_overrides = {
+--   ['w'] = 'j',
+-- }
+
+return layouts
diff --git a/layouts.lua b/layouts.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..949a8bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/layouts.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+-- Keyboard layout mappings for vi-xournalpp plugin
+-- This file contains default layout definitions
+-- To customize, copy config.lua.example to config.lua and modify it
+
+local config = {}
+
+-- Active keyboard layout
+-- Options: 'qwerty', 'dvorak', 'colemak', or your custom layout name
+config.active_layout = 'qwerty'
+
+-- Custom key overrides (optional)
+-- Use this to override specific keys for your personal preference
+-- This applies AFTER layout mapping
+-- Example: config.key_overrides = { ['w'] = 'j', ['s'] = 'k' }
+config.key_overrides = {}
+
+-- Keyboard layout mappings
+-- Maps QWERTY keys to their physical equivalents on other layouts
+-- This preserves hand movement and muscle memory across layouts
+config.layout_map = {
+  qwerty = {},
+
+  dvorak = {
+    ['q'] = 'apostrophe',
+    ['w'] = 'comma',
+    ['e'] = 'period',
+    ['r'] = 'p',
+    ['t'] = 'y',
+    ['y'] = 'f',
+    ['u'] = 'g',
+    ['i'] = 'c',
+    ['o'] = 'r',
+    ['p'] = 'l',
+    ['a'] = 'a',
+    ['s'] = 'o',
+    ['d'] = 'e',
+    ['f'] = 'u',
+    ['g'] = 'i',
+    ['h'] = 'd',
+    ['j'] = 'h',
+    ['k'] = 't',
+    ['l'] = 'n',
+    ['z'] = 'semicolon',
+    ['x'] = 'q',
+    ['c'] = 'j',
+    ['v'] = 'k',
+    ['b'] = 'x',
+    ['n'] = 'b',
+    ['m'] = 'm',
+    ['comma'] = 'w',
+    ['period'] = 'v',
+    ['slash'] = 'z',
+    ['less'] = '<Shift>w',
+    ['greater'] = '<Shift>v',
+    ['question'] = '<Shift>z',
+  },
+
+  colemak = {
+    ['q'] = 'q',
+    ['w'] = 'w',
+    ['e'] = 'f',
+    ['r'] = 'p',
+    ['t'] = 'g',
+    ['y'] = 'j',
+    ['u'] = 'l',
+    ['i'] = 'u',
+    ['o'] = 'y',
+    ['p'] = 'semicolon',
+    ['a'] = 'a',
+    ['s'] = 'r',
+    ['d'] = 's',
+    ['f'] = 't',
+    ['g'] = 'd',
+    ['h'] = 'h',
+    ['j'] = 'n',
+    ['k'] = 'e',
+    ['l'] = 'i',
+    ['z'] = 'z',
+    ['x'] = 'x',
+    ['c'] = 'c',
+    ['v'] = 'v',
+    ['b'] = 'b',
+    ['n'] = 'k',
+    ['m'] = 'm',
+  },
+}
+
+-- Helper function to map keys with modifiers dynamically
+function config.map_key(key, layout_map)
+  if not key or key == '' or not layout_map then
+    return key
+  end
+
+  -- Extract modifiers and base key
+  local modifiers = {}
+  local base_key = key
+
+  for modifier in key:gmatch('<([^>]+)>') do
+    table.insert(modifiers, modifier)
+  end
+
+  -- Get base key (everything after last >)
+  if #modifiers > 0 then
+    base_key = key:match('[^>]+$') or ''
+  end
+
+  if base_key == '' then
+    return key
+  end
+
+  -- Map the base key
+  local mapped_base = layout_map[base_key] or base_key
+
+  -- Reconstruct with modifiers
+  if #modifiers > 0 then
+    local result = ''
+    for _, mod in ipairs(modifiers) do
+      result = result .. '<' .. mod .. '>'
+    end
+    return result .. mapped_base
+  end
+
+  return mapped_base
+end
+
+return config
diff --git a/main.lua b/main.lua
index 87716ba..cfab43e 100644
--- a/main.lua
+++ b/main.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,41 @@ require('modes')
 
 f = {}
 
+-- Apply config if it exists
+local function apply_config()
+  local success, config = pcall(require, 'config')
+  if not success or type(config) ~= 'table' then
+    if success and type(config) ~= 'table' then
+      print('vi-xournalpp: config.lua exists but does not return a table')
+    end
+    return
+  end
+
+  local layout = config.active_layout or 'qwerty'
+  local layout_map = config.layout_map and config.layout_map[layout]
+  local key_overrides = config.key_overrides or {}
+
+  if not layout_map and layout ~= 'qwerty' then
+    print("vi-xournalpp: Unknown layout '" .. layout .. "', using qwerty.")
+    layout_map = config.layout_map and config.layout_map.qwerty
+  end
+
+  for _, binding in pairs(keybindings) do
+    local new_buttons = {}
+    for _, button in ipairs(binding.buttons) do
+      local mapped_button = button
+      if layout_map and layout ~= 'qwerty' then
+        mapped_button = config.map_key(button, layout_map)
+      end
+      mapped_button = key_overrides[mapped_button] or mapped_button
+      table.insert(new_buttons, mapped_button)
+    end
+    binding.buttons = new_buttons
+  end
+end
+
+apply_config()
+
 function initUi()
   index = 1
   for _, binding in pairs(keybindings) do