diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
index 20b69de..d1c2945 100644
--- a/database.go
+++ b/database.go
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@ func userfromrow(row *sql.Row) (*WhatAbout, error) {
 	}
 	if user.ID > 0 {
 		user.URL = fmt.Sprintf("https://%s/%s/%s", serverName, userSep, user.Name)
-		user.SkinnyCSS = strings.Contains(options, " skinny ")
+		err = unjsonify(options, &user.Options)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("error processing user options: %s", err)
+		}
 	} else {
 		user.URL = fmt.Sprintf("https://%s/%s", serverName, user.Name)
 	}
diff --git a/honk.go b/honk.go
index b147ef5..1245132 100644
--- a/honk.go
+++ b/honk.go
@@ -27,14 +27,18 @@ import (
 )
 
 type WhatAbout struct {
-	ID        int64
-	Name      string
-	Display   string
-	About     string
-	Key       string
-	URL       string
-	SkinnyCSS bool
-	SecKey    *rsa.PrivateKey
+	ID      int64
+	Name    string
+	Display string
+	About   string
+	Key     string
+	URL     string
+	Options UserOptions
+	SecKey  *rsa.PrivateKey
+}
+
+type UserOptions struct {
+	SkinnyCSS bool `json:",omitempty"`
 }
 
 type KeyInfo struct {
diff --git a/upgradedb.go b/upgradedb.go
index 4bb2dc5..d43babc 100644
--- a/upgradedb.go
+++ b/upgradedb.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-var myVersion = 30
+var myVersion = 31
 
 func doordie(db *sql.DB, s string, args ...interface{}) {
 	_, err := db.Exec(s, args...)
@@ -317,6 +317,43 @@ func upgradedb() {
 		doordie(db, "update config set value = 30 where key = 'dbversion'")
 		fallthrough
 	case 30:
+		tx, err := db.Begin()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		rows, err := tx.Query("select userid, options from users")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		m := make(map[int64]string)
+		for rows.Next() {
+			var userid int64
+			var options string
+			err = rows.Scan(&userid, &options)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			var uo UserOptions
+			uo.SkinnyCSS = strings.Contains(options, " skinny ")
+			m[userid], err = jsonify(uo)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+		rows.Close()
+		for u, o := range m {
+			_, err = tx.Exec("update users set options = ? where userid = ?", o, u)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+		err = tx.Commit()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		doordie(db, "update config set value = 31 where key = 'dbversion'")
+		fallthrough
+	case 31:
 
 	default:
 		log.Fatalf("can't upgrade unknown version %d", dbversion)
diff --git a/util.go b/util.go
index db12bb1..acf5e9e 100644
--- a/util.go
+++ b/util.go
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ func createuser(db *sql.DB, r *bufio.Reader) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	about := "what about me?"
-	_, err = db.Exec("insert into users (username, displayname, about, hash, pubkey, seckey, options) values (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)", name, name, about, hash, pubkey, seckey, "")
+	_, err = db.Exec("insert into users (username, displayname, about, hash, pubkey, seckey, options) values (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)", name, name, about, hash, pubkey, seckey, "{}")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/views/account.html b/views/account.html
index 0523d12..460325e 100644
--- a/views/account.html
+++ b/views/account.html
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 <input type="hidden" name="CSRF" value="{{ .UserCSRF }}">
 <p>about me:
 <p><textarea name="whatabout">{{ .User.About }}</textarea>
-<p><span><label for="skinny">skinny layout:</label>
-<input tabindex=1 type="checkbox" id="skinny" name="skinny" value="skinny" {{ if .User.SkinnyCSS }}checked{{ end }}><span></span></span>
+<p><label class="button" for="skinny">skinny layout:</label>
+<input tabindex=1 type="checkbox" id="skinny" name="skinny" value="skinny" {{ if .User.Options.SkinnyCSS }}checked{{ end }}><span></span>
 <p><button>update settings</button>
 </form>
 </div>
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 127a6a9..f6a7d35 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func getuserstyle(u *login.UserInfo) template.CSS {
 		return ""
 	}
 	user, _ := butwhatabout(u.Username)
-	if user.SkinnyCSS {
+	if user.Options.SkinnyCSS {
 		return "main { max-width: 700px; }"
 	}
 	return ""
@@ -929,11 +929,14 @@ func saveuser(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	whatabout := r.FormValue("whatabout")
 	u := login.GetUserInfo(r)
 	db := opendatabase()
-	options := ""
+	var options UserOptions
 	if r.FormValue("skinny") == "skinny" {
-		options += " skinny "
+		options.SkinnyCSS = true
+	}
+	j, err := jsonify(options)
+	if err == nil {
+		_, err = db.Exec("update users set about = ?, options = ? where username = ?", whatabout, j, u.Username)
 	}
-	_, err := db.Exec("update users set about = ?, options = ? where username = ?", whatabout, options, u.Username)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("error bouting what: %s", err)
 	}