diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go
index bb8aa45dc..5c3fbb52a 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 func initFiles(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	privValFile := config.PrivValidatorFile
+	privValFile := config.PrivValidatorFile()
 	if _, err := os.Stat(privValFile); os.IsNotExist(err) {
 		privValidator := types.GenPrivValidator()
 		privValidator.SetFile(privValFile)
 		privValidator.Save()
 
-		genFile := config.GenesisFile
+		genFile := config.GenesisFile()
 
 		if _, err := os.Stat(genFile); os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			genDoc := types.GenesisDoc{
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go
index c84ebcf8b..c10f9c56a 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ func init() {
 // XXX: this is totally unsafe.
 // it's only suitable for testnets.
 func resetAll(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	ResetAll(config.DBDir, config.PrivValidatorFile, log)
+	ResetAll(config.DBDir(), config.PrivValidatorFile(), log)
 }
 
 // XXX: this is totally unsafe.
 // it's only suitable for testnets.
 func resetPrivValidator(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	resetPrivValidatorLocal(config.PrivValidatorFile, log)
+	resetPrivValidatorLocal(config.PrivValidatorFile(), log)
 }
 
 // Exported so other CLI tools can use  it
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go
index 63ee0db5c..28527b7f1 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	config = cfg.DefaultConfig("REMOVE-ROOT")
+	config = cfg.DefaultConfig()
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().String("log_level", config.LogLevel, "Log level")
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
index d8c268c26..a2c363dc9 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func runNode(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	// This is for Mintnet compatibility.
 	// TODO: If Mintnet gets deprecated or genesis_file is
 	// always available, remove.
-	genDocFile := config.GenesisFile
+	genDocFile := config.GenesisFile()
 	if !cmn.FileExists(genDocFile) {
 		log.Notice(cmn.Fmt("Waiting for genesis file %v...", genDocFile))
 		for {
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
index b741ba8c0..6f2e2a07e 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 func showValidator(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	privValidator := types.LoadOrGenPrivValidator(config.PrivValidatorFile)
+	privValidator := types.LoadOrGenPrivValidator(config.PrivValidatorFile())
 	pubKeyJSONBytes, _ := data.ToJSON(privValidator.PubKey)
 	fmt.Println(string(pubKeyJSONBytes))
 }
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 531ef9a50..7490f8037 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"path/filepath"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
@@ -16,34 +17,45 @@ type Config struct {
 	Consensus *ConsensusConfig `mapstructure:"consensus"`
 }
 
-func DefaultConfig(rootDir string) *Config {
+func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 	return &Config{
-		BaseConfig: DefaultBaseConfig(rootDir),
-		P2P:        DefaultP2PConfig(rootDir),
-		Mempool:    DefaultMempoolConfig(rootDir),
-		Consensus:  DefaultConsensusConfig(rootDir),
+		BaseConfig: DefaultBaseConfig(),
+		P2P:        DefaultP2PConfig(),
+		Mempool:    DefaultMempoolConfig(),
+		Consensus:  DefaultConsensusConfig(),
 	}
 }
 
-func TestConfig(rootDir string) *Config {
+func TestConfig() *Config {
 	return &Config{
-		BaseConfig: DefaultBaseConfig(rootDir),
-		P2P:        DefaultP2PConfig(rootDir),
-		Mempool:    DefaultMempoolConfig(rootDir),
-		Consensus:  TestConsensusConfig(rootDir),
+		BaseConfig: DefaultBaseConfig(),
+		P2P:        DefaultP2PConfig(),
+		Mempool:    DefaultMempoolConfig(),
+		Consensus:  TestConsensusConfig(),
 	}
 }
 
+// TODO: set this from root or home.... or default....
+func SetRoot(cfg *Config, root string) {
+	cfg.BaseConfig.RootDir = root
+	cfg.P2P.RootDir = root
+	cfg.Mempool.RootDir = root
+	cfg.Consensus.RootDir = root
+}
+
 // BaseConfig struct for a Tendermint node
 type BaseConfig struct {
+	// TODO: set this from root or home.... or default....
+	RootDir string `mapstructure:"home"`
+
 	// The ID of the chain to join (should be signed with every transaction and vote)
 	ChainID string `mapstructure:"chain_id"`
 
 	// A JSON file containing the initial validator set and other meta data
-	GenesisFile string `mapstructure:"genesis_file"`
+	Genesis string `mapstructure:"genesis_file"`
 
 	// A JSON file containing the private key to use as a validator in the consensus protocol
-	PrivValidatorFile string `mapstructure:"priv_validator_file"`
+	PrivValidator string `mapstructure:"priv_validator_file"`
 
 	// A custom human readable name for this node
 	Moniker string `mapstructure:"moniker"`
@@ -77,7 +89,7 @@ type BaseConfig struct {
 	DBBackend string `mapstructure:"db_backend"`
 
 	// Database directory
-	DBDir string `mapstructure:"db_dir"`
+	DBPath string `mapstructure:"db_dir"`
 
 	// TCP or UNIX socket address for the RPC server to listen on
 	RPCListenAddress string `mapstructure:"rpc_laddr"`
@@ -87,10 +99,10 @@ type BaseConfig struct {
 	GRPCListenAddress string `mapstructure:"grpc_laddr"`
 }
 
-func DefaultBaseConfig(rootDir string) *BaseConfig {
+func DefaultBaseConfig() *BaseConfig {
 	return &BaseConfig{
-		GenesisFile:       rootDir + "/genesis.json",
-		PrivValidatorFile: rootDir + "/priv_validator.json",
+		Genesis:           "genesis.json",
+		PrivValidator:     "priv_validator.json",
 		Moniker:           "anonymous",
 		ProxyApp:          "tcp://127.0.0.1:46658",
 		ABCI:              "socket",
@@ -100,51 +112,74 @@ func DefaultBaseConfig(rootDir string) *BaseConfig {
 		FilterPeers:       false,
 		TxIndex:           "kv",
 		DBBackend:         "leveldb",
-		DBDir:             rootDir + "/data",
+		DBPath:            "data",
 		RPCListenAddress:  "tcp://0.0.0.0:46657",
 		GRPCListenAddress: "",
 	}
 }
 
+func (b *BaseConfig) GenesisFile() string {
+	return rootify(b.Genesis, b.RootDir)
+}
+
+func (b *BaseConfig) PrivValidatorFile() string {
+	return rootify(b.PrivValidator, b.RootDir)
+}
+
+func (b *BaseConfig) DBDir() string {
+	return rootify(b.DBPath, b.RootDir)
+}
+
 type P2PConfig struct {
+	RootDir        string `mapstructure:"home"`
 	ListenAddress  string `mapstructure:"laddr"`
 	Seeds          string `mapstructure:"seeds"`
 	SkipUPNP       bool   `mapstructure:"skip_upnp"`
-	AddrBookFile   string `mapstructure:"addr_book_file"`
+	AddrBook       string `mapstructure:"addr_book_file"`
 	AddrBookStrict bool   `mapstructure:"addr_book_strict"`
 	PexReactor     bool   `mapstructure:"pex_reactor"`
 	MaxNumPeers    int    `mapstructure:"max_num_peers"`
 }
 
-func DefaultP2PConfig(rootDir string) *P2PConfig {
+func DefaultP2PConfig() *P2PConfig {
 	return &P2PConfig{
 		ListenAddress:  "tcp://0.0.0.0:46656",
-		AddrBookFile:   rootDir + "/addrbook.json",
+		AddrBook:       "addrbook.json",
 		AddrBookStrict: true,
 		MaxNumPeers:    50,
 	}
 }
 
+func (p *P2PConfig) AddrBookFile() string {
+	return rootify(p.AddrBook, p.RootDir)
+}
+
 type MempoolConfig struct {
+	RootDir      string `mapstructure:"home"`
 	Recheck      bool   `mapstructure:"recheck"`       // true
 	RecheckEmpty bool   `mapstructure:"recheck_empty"` // true
 	Broadcast    bool   `mapstructure:"broadcast"`     // true
-	WalDir       string `mapstructure:"wal_dir"`       //
+	WalPath      string `mapstructure:"wal_dir"`       //
 }
 
-func DefaultMempoolConfig(rootDir string) *MempoolConfig {
+func DefaultMempoolConfig() *MempoolConfig {
 	return &MempoolConfig{
 		Recheck:      true,
 		RecheckEmpty: true,
 		Broadcast:    true,
-		WalDir:       rootDir + "/data/mempool.wal",
+		WalPath:      "data/mempool.wal",
 	}
 }
 
+func (m *MempoolConfig) WalDir() string {
+	return rootify(m.WalPath, m.RootDir)
+}
+
 // ConsensusConfig holds timeouts and details about the WAL, the block structure,
 // and timeouts in the consensus protocol.
 type ConsensusConfig struct {
-	WalFile  string `mapstructure:"wal_file"`
+	RootDir  string `mapstructure:"home"`
+	WalPath  string `mapstructure:"wal_file"`
 	WalLight bool   `mapstructure:"wal_light"`
 
 	// All timeouts are in ms
@@ -188,9 +223,9 @@ func (cfg *ConsensusConfig) Commit(t time.Time) time.Time {
 	return t.Add(time.Duration(cfg.TimeoutCommit) * time.Millisecond)
 }
 
-func DefaultConsensusConfig(rootDir string) *ConsensusConfig {
+func DefaultConsensusConfig() *ConsensusConfig {
 	return &ConsensusConfig{
-		WalFile:               rootDir + "/data/cs.wal/wal",
+		WalPath:               "data/cs.wal/wal",
 		WalLight:              false,
 		TimeoutPropose:        3000,
 		TimeoutProposeDelta:   500,
@@ -206,8 +241,8 @@ func DefaultConsensusConfig(rootDir string) *ConsensusConfig {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestConsensusConfig(rootDir string) *ConsensusConfig {
-	config := DefaultConsensusConfig(rootDir)
+func TestConsensusConfig() *ConsensusConfig {
+	config := DefaultConsensusConfig()
 	config.TimeoutPropose = 2000
 	config.TimeoutProposeDelta = 1
 	config.TimeoutPrevote = 10
@@ -218,3 +253,15 @@ func TestConsensusConfig(rootDir string) *ConsensusConfig {
 	config.SkipTimeoutCommit = true
 	return config
 }
+
+func (c *ConsensusConfig) WalFile() string {
+	return rootify(c.WalPath, c.RootDir)
+}
+
+// helper function to make config creation independent of root dir
+func rootify(path, root string) string {
+	if filepath.IsAbs(path) {
+		return path
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(root, path)
+}
diff --git a/consensus/replay_file.go b/consensus/replay_file.go
index e7d904bff..3735f8942 100644
--- a/consensus/replay_file.go
+++ b/consensus/replay_file.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 func RunReplayFile(config *cfg.BaseConfig, csConfig *cfg.ConsensusConfig, console bool) {
 	consensusState := newConsensusStateForReplay(config, csConfig)
 
-	if err := consensusState.ReplayFile(csConfig.WalFile, console); err != nil {
+	if err := consensusState.ReplayFile(csConfig.WalFile(), console); err != nil {
 		cmn.Exit(cmn.Fmt("Error during consensus replay: %v", err))
 	}
 }
@@ -237,15 +237,15 @@ func (pb *playback) replayConsoleLoop() int {
 // convenience for replay mode
 func newConsensusStateForReplay(config *cfg.BaseConfig, csConfig *cfg.ConsensusConfig) *ConsensusState {
 	// Get BlockStore
-	blockStoreDB := dbm.NewDB("blockstore", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir)
+	blockStoreDB := dbm.NewDB("blockstore", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir())
 	blockStore := bc.NewBlockStore(blockStoreDB)
 
 	// Get State
-	stateDB := dbm.NewDB("state", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir)
-	state := sm.MakeGenesisStateFromFile(stateDB, config.GenesisFile)
+	stateDB := dbm.NewDB("state", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir())
+	state := sm.MakeGenesisStateFromFile(stateDB, config.GenesisFile())
 
 	// Create proxyAppConn connection (consensus, mempool, query)
-	clientCreator := proxy.DefaultClientCreator(config.ProxyApp, config.ABCI, config.DBDir)
+	clientCreator := proxy.DefaultClientCreator(config.ProxyApp, config.ABCI, config.DBDir())
 	proxyApp := proxy.NewAppConns(clientCreator, NewHandshaker(state, blockStore))
 	_, err := proxyApp.Start()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/consensus/state.go b/consensus/state.go
index a565dfdce..579f22ce5 100644
--- a/consensus/state.go
+++ b/consensus/state.go
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ func (cs *ConsensusState) LoadCommit(height int) *types.Commit {
 
 func (cs *ConsensusState) OnStart() error {
 
-	walFile := cs.config.WalFile
+	walFile := cs.config.WalFile()
 	if err := cs.OpenWAL(walFile); err != nil {
 		log.Error("Error loading ConsensusState wal", "error", err.Error())
 		return err
diff --git a/mempool/mempool.go b/mempool/mempool.go
index 6b168897c..44a20e6f5 100644
--- a/mempool/mempool.go
+++ b/mempool/mempool.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func NewMempool(config *cfg.MempoolConfig, proxyAppConn proxy.AppConnMempool) *M
 }
 
 func (mem *Mempool) initWAL() {
-	walDir := mem.config.WalDir
+	walDir := mem.config.WalDir()
 	if walDir != "" {
 		err := cmn.EnsureDir(walDir, 0700)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index b206c2ad9..6896bc4f1 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -59,20 +59,20 @@ type Node struct {
 
 func NewNodeDefault(config *cfg.Config) *Node {
 	// Get PrivValidator
-	privValidator := types.LoadOrGenPrivValidator(config.PrivValidatorFile)
+	privValidator := types.LoadOrGenPrivValidator(config.PrivValidatorFile())
 	return NewNode(config, privValidator,
-		proxy.DefaultClientCreator(config.ProxyApp, config.ABCI, config.DBDir))
+		proxy.DefaultClientCreator(config.ProxyApp, config.ABCI, config.DBDir()))
 }
 
 func NewNode(config *cfg.Config, privValidator *types.PrivValidator, clientCreator proxy.ClientCreator) *Node {
 
 	// Get BlockStore
-	blockStoreDB := dbm.NewDB("blockstore", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir)
+	blockStoreDB := dbm.NewDB("blockstore", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir())
 	blockStore := bc.NewBlockStore(blockStoreDB)
 
 	// Get State
-	stateDB := dbm.NewDB("state", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir)
-	state := sm.GetState(stateDB, config.GenesisFile)
+	stateDB := dbm.NewDB("state", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir())
+	state := sm.GetState(stateDB, config.GenesisFile())
 
 	// add the chainid and number of validators to the global config
 	// TODO: Set ChainID. eg:
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func NewNode(config *cfg.Config, privValidator *types.PrivValidator, clientCreat
 	var txIndexer txindex.TxIndexer
 	switch config.TxIndex {
 	case "kv":
-		store := dbm.NewDB("tx_index", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir)
+		store := dbm.NewDB("tx_index", config.DBBackend, config.DBDir())
 		txIndexer = kv.NewTxIndex(store)
 	default:
 		txIndexer = &null.TxIndex{}
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func NewNode(config *cfg.Config, privValidator *types.PrivValidator, clientCreat
 	// Optionally, start the pex reactor
 	var addrBook *p2p.AddrBook
 	if config.P2P.PexReactor {
-		addrBook = p2p.NewAddrBook(config.P2P.AddrBookFile, config.P2P.AddrBookStrict)
+		addrBook = p2p.NewAddrBook(config.P2P.AddrBookFile(), config.P2P.AddrBookStrict)
 		pexReactor := p2p.NewPEXReactor(addrBook)
 		sw.AddReactor("PEX", pexReactor)
 	}