diff --git a/lua/cosmic/config/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/config/init.lua
index 13478cc..e950063 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/config/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/config/init.lua
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ local default_config = {
   },
 }
 
-local config = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', default_config, user_config)
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
+local config = utils.merge(default_config, user_config)
 local user_servers = vim.tbl_keys(config.lsp.servers)
 
 function config.lsp.can_client_format(client_name)
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/lsp/diagnostics.lua b/lua/cosmic/lsp/diagnostics.lua
index 0e743af..4315742 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/lsp/diagnostics.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/lsp/diagnostics.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
 
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ end
 
 -- set up vim.diagnostics
 -- vim.diagnostic.config opts
-vim.diagnostic.config(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+vim.diagnostic.config(utils.merge({
   underline = true,
   signs = true,
   update_in_insert = false,
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/init.lua
index a988723..364d2ed 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/init.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 local default_config = require('cosmic.lsp.providers.defaults')
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
 local lsp_installer = require('nvim-lsp-installer')
@@ -54,17 +55,17 @@ lsp_installer.on_server_ready(function(server)
 
   -- set up default cosmic options
   if server.name == 'tsserver' then
-    opts = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts, require('cosmic.lsp.providers.tsserver'))
+    opts = utils.merge(opts, require('cosmic.lsp.providers.tsserver'))
   elseif server.name == 'jsonls' then
-    opts = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts, require('cosmic.lsp.providers.jsonls'))
+    opts = utils.merge(opts, require('cosmic.lsp.providers.jsonls'))
   elseif server.name == 'sumneko_lua' then
-    opts = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts, require('cosmic.lsp.providers.sumneko_lua'))
+    opts = utils.merge(opts, require('cosmic.lsp.providers.sumneko_lua'))
   end
 
   -- override options if user definds them
   if type(config.lsp.servers[server.name]) == 'table' then
     if config.lsp.servers[server.name].opts ~= nil then
-      opts = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts, config.lsp.servers[server.name].opts)
+      opts = utils.merge(opts, config.lsp.servers[server.name].opts)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/null_ls.lua b/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/null_ls.lua
index 8a28379..04bc347 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/null_ls.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/null_ls.lua
@@ -1,20 +1,21 @@
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 local defaults = require('cosmic.lsp.providers.defaults')
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
 local null_ls = require('null-ls')
 
-local has_eslint_config = function(utils)
-  return utils.root_has_file('.eslintrc')
-    or utils.root_has_file('.eslintrc.json')
-    or utils.root_has_file('.eslintrc.js')
-    or utils.root_has_file('package.json')
-    or utils.root_has_file('.eslintrc.cjs')
-    or utils.root_has_file('.eslintrc.yaml')
-    or utils.root_has_file('.eslintrc.yml')
+local has_eslint_config = function(u)
+  return u.root_has_file('.eslintrc')
+    or u.root_has_file('.eslintrc.json')
+    or u.root_has_file('.eslintrc.js')
+    or u.root_has_file('package.json')
+    or u.root_has_file('.eslintrc.cjs')
+    or u.root_has_file('.eslintrc.yaml')
+    or u.root_has_file('.eslintrc.yml')
 end
 
 local config_opts = config.lsp.servers.null_ls or {}
 
-require('null-ls').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+require('null-ls').setup(utils.merge({
   -- you must define at least one source for the plugin to work
   sources = {
     null_ls.builtins.code_actions.eslint_d.with({
@@ -30,5 +31,4 @@ require('null-ls').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
     null_ls.builtins.formatting.prettierd,
     null_ls.builtins.formatting.stylua,
   },
-
 }, defaults, config_opts or {}))
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/tsserver.lua b/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/tsserver.lua
index 88cb06d..5958f3d 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/tsserver.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/lsp/providers/tsserver.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 local default_on_attach = require('cosmic.lsp.providers.defaults').on_attach
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
 local M = {}
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ function M.on_attach(client, bufnr)
   local ts_utils = require('nvim-lsp-ts-utils')
 
   -- defaults
-  ts_utils.setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+  ts_utils.setup(utils.merge({
     debug = false,
     disable_commands = false,
     enable_import_on_completion = true,
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/auto-session/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/auto-session/init.lua
index 481a060..547a203 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/auto-session/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/auto-session/init.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
+
 local defaults = {
   pre_save_cmds = { 'NvimTreeClose', 'cclose', 'lua vim.notify.dismiss()' },
   post_restore_cmds = { 'NvimTreeRefresh' },
@@ -7,4 +9,4 @@ local defaults = {
   auto_restore_enabled = false,
 }
 
-require('auto-session').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', defaults, config.auto_session or {}))
+require('auto-session').setup(utils.merge(defaults, config.auto_session or {}))
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/comments/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/comments/init.lua
index ce4120b..97ab44f 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/comments/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/comments/init.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
-require('Comment').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+require('Comment').setup(utils.merge({
   pre_hook = function(ctx)
     local U = require('Comment.utils')
     local location = nil
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/cosmic-ui/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/cosmic-ui/init.lua
index c6ecf40..e490e6f 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/cosmic-ui/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/cosmic-ui/init.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
 local defaults = {
   border = 'rounded',
 }
 
-require('cosmic-ui').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', defaults, config.cosmic_ui or {}))
+require('cosmic-ui').setup(utils.merge(defaults, config.cosmic_ui or {}))
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/galaxyline/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/galaxyline/init.lua
index 03d600b..a81bb45 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/galaxyline/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/galaxyline/init.lua
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ local config = require('cosmic.config')
 local get_highlight = require('cosmic.theme.utils').get_highlight
 local statusline_colors = get_highlight('StatusLine')
 
-local defaults = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+local defaults = utils.merge({
   main_icon = icons.cosmic,
 }, config.statusline or {})
 local main_icon = defaults.main_icon
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/gitsigns/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/gitsigns/init.lua
index 304220e..c960726 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/gitsigns/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/gitsigns/init.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
-require('gitsigns').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+require('gitsigns').setup(utils.merge({
   signs = {
     add = { hl = 'GitSignsAdd', text = '│', numhl = 'GitSignsAddNr', linehl = 'GitSignsAddLn' },
     change = { hl = 'GitSignsChange', text = '│', numhl = 'GitSignsChangeNr', linehl = 'GitSignsChangeLn' },
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/lsp-signature/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/lsp-signature/init.lua
index 619c284..b7e1609 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/lsp-signature/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/lsp-signature/init.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
-require('lsp_signature').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+require('lsp_signature').setup(utils.merge({
   bind = true, -- This is mandatory, otherwise border config won't get registered.
   handler_opts = {
     border = config.border,
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/luasnip/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/luasnip/init.lua
index 7b85324..dcd583a 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/luasnip/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/luasnip/init.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
 local ls = require('luasnip')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
+
 -- some shorthands...
 --[[ local s = ls.snippet
 local sn = ls.snippet_node
@@ -10,7 +12,7 @@ local c = ls.choice_node
 local d = ls.dynamic_node ]]
 
 -- Every unspecified option will be set to the default.
-ls.config.set_config(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+ls.config.set_config(utils.merge({
   history = true,
   -- Update more often, :h events for more info.
   updateevents = 'TextChanged,TextChangedI',
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/notify/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/notify/init.lua
index 6355320..111de57 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/notify/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/notify/init.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
-require('notify').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+require('notify').setup(utils.merge({
   icons = {
     ERROR = icons.error,
     WARN = icons.warn,
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-cmp/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-cmp/init.lua
index a382158..67c7e8b 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-cmp/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-cmp/init.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 local cmp = require('cmp')
-local utils = require('cosmic-ui.utils')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 local luasnip = require('luasnip')
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
 local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-tree/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-tree/init.lua
index 825a042..17e9129 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-tree/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/nvim-tree/init.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
+local config = require('cosmic.config')
 local g = vim.g
 local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
-local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
 -- settings
 g.nvim_tree_git_hl = 1
@@ -48,4 +49,4 @@ local args = {
   },
 }
 
-require('nvim-tree').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', args, config.nvim_tree or {}))
+require('nvim-tree').setup(utils.merge(args, config.nvim_tree or {}))
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/telescope/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/telescope/init.lua
index 70b0aeb..7c5a7a6 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/telescope/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/telescope/init.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local actions = require('telescope.actions')
-local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
 local default_mappings = {
   n = {
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ local opts_flex = {
   },
 }
 
-require('telescope').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+require('telescope').setup(utils.merge({
   defaults = {
     prompt_prefix = '🔍 ',
     selection_caret = icons.folder.arrow_closed,
@@ -78,9 +79,9 @@ require('telescope').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
     },
   },
   pickers = {
-    buffers = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_flex, {
+    buffers = utils.merge(opts_flex, {
       prompt_title = '✨ Search Buffers ✨',
-      mappings = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+      mappings = utils.merge({
         n = {
           ['d'] = actions.delete_buffer,
         },
@@ -88,46 +89,46 @@ require('telescope').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
       sort_mru = true,
       preview_title = false,
     }),
-    lsp_code_actions = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_cursor, {
+    lsp_code_actions = utils.merge(opts_cursor, {
       prompt_title = 'Code Actions',
     }),
-    lsp_range_code_actions = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_vertical, {
+    lsp_range_code_actions = utils.merge(opts_vertical, {
       prompt_title = 'Code Actions',
     }),
-    lsp_document_diagnostics = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_vertical, {
+    lsp_document_diagnostics = utils.merge(opts_vertical, {
       prompt_title = 'Document Diagnostics',
       mappings = default_mappings,
     }),
-    lsp_implementations = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_cursor, {
+    lsp_implementations = utils.merge(opts_cursor, {
       prompt_title = 'Implementations',
       mappings = default_mappings,
     }),
-    lsp_definitions = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_cursor, {
+    lsp_definitions = utils.merge(opts_cursor, {
       prompt_title = 'Definitions',
       mappings = default_mappings,
     }),
-    lsp_references = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_vertical, {
+    lsp_references = utils.merge(opts_vertical, {
       prompt_title = 'References',
       mappings = default_mappings,
     }),
-    find_files = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_flex, {
+    find_files = utils.merge(opts_flex, {
       prompt_title = '✨ Search Project ✨',
       mappings = default_mappings,
       hidden = true,
     }),
-    diagnostics = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_vertical, {
+    diagnostics = utils.merge(opts_vertical, {
       mappings = default_mappings,
     }),
-    git_files = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_flex, {
+    git_files = utils.merge(opts_flex, {
       prompt_title = '✨ Search Git Project ✨',
       mappings = default_mappings,
       hidden = true,
     }),
-    live_grep = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_flex, {
+    live_grep = utils.merge(opts_flex, {
       prompt_title = '✨ Live Grep ✨',
       mappings = default_mappings,
     }),
-    grep_string = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', opts_vertical, {
+    grep_string = utils.merge(opts_vertical, {
       prompt_title = '✨ Grep String ✨',
       mappings = default_mappings,
     }),
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/todo-comments/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/todo-comments/init.lua
index 84c9331..6a85447 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/todo-comments/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/todo-comments/init.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local icons = require('cosmic.theme.icons')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
-require('todo-comments').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+require('todo-comments').setup(utils.merge({
   keywords = {
     FIX = {
       icon = icons.debug, -- icon used for the sign, and in search results
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/plugins/treesitter/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/plugins/treesitter/init.lua
index 6b2007e..8ff1928 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/plugins/treesitter/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/plugins/treesitter/init.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local config = require('cosmic.config')
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
 local defaults = {
   ensure_installed = {
@@ -35,4 +36,4 @@ local defaults = {
   },
 }
 
-require('nvim-treesitter.configs').setup(vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', defaults, config.treesitter or {}))
+require('nvim-treesitter.configs').setup(utils.merge(defaults, config.treesitter or {}))
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/theme/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/theme/init.lua
index 61b3ce7..ef5a38a 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/theme/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/theme/init.lua
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@ end
 local highlight = require('cosmic.theme.utils').highlight
 local get_highlight = require('cosmic.theme.utils').get_highlight
 local set_highlight = require('cosmic.theme.utils').set_highlight
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 
 local statusline_colors = get_highlight('StatusLine')
 local error_colors = get_highlight('DiagnosticError')
 set_highlight(
   'DiagnosticErrorInv',
-  vim.tbl_extend('force', error_colors, {
+  utils.merge(error_colors, {
     guibg = error_colors.guifg,
     guifg = statusline_colors.guibg,
   })
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ set_highlight(
 local warning_colors = get_highlight('DiagnosticWarn')
 set_highlight(
   'DiagnosticWarnInv',
-  vim.tbl_extend('force', warning_colors, {
+  utils.merge(warning_colors, {
     guibg = warning_colors.guifg,
     guifg = statusline_colors.guibg,
   })
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ set_highlight(
 local hint_colors = get_highlight('DiagnosticHint')
 set_highlight(
   'DiagnosticHintInv',
-  vim.tbl_extend('force', hint_colors, {
+  utils.merge(hint_colors, {
     guibg = hint_colors.guifg,
     guifg = statusline_colors.guibg,
   })
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ set_highlight(
 local info_colors = get_highlight('DiagnosticInfo')
 set_highlight(
   'DiagnosticInfoInv',
-  vim.tbl_extend('force', info_colors, {
+  utils.merge(info_colors, {
     guibg = info_colors.guifg,
     guifg = statusline_colors.guibg,
   })
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/utils/init.lua b/lua/cosmic/utils/init.lua
index bf87f2b..ac0378f 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/utils/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/utils/init.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-local Logger = require('cosmic.utils.logger')
 local M = {}
 
 function M.map(mode, lhs, rhs, opts)
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ function M.buf_map(bufnr, mode, lhs, rhs, opts)
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_keymap(bufnr, mode, lhs, rhs, options)
 end
 
-M.merge = function(...)
+function M.merge(...)
   return vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', ...)
 end
 
@@ -67,6 +66,7 @@ local function clear_cache()
 end
 
 function M.post_reload(msg)
+  local Logger = require('cosmic.utils.logger')
   unload('cosmic.utils', true)
   unload('cosmic.theme', true)
   unload('cosmic.plugins.statusline', true)
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ end
 
 -- update instance of CosmicNvim
 function M.update()
+  local Logger = require('cosmic.utils.logger')
   local Job = require('plenary.job')
   local path = M.get_install_dir()
   local errors = {}
diff --git a/lua/cosmic/utils/logger.lua b/lua/cosmic/utils/logger.lua
index 9b7682a..7158b92 100644
--- a/lua/cosmic/utils/logger.lua
+++ b/lua/cosmic/utils/logger.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+local utils = require('cosmic.utils')
 local Logger = {}
 Logger.__index = Logger
 
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ function Logger:log(msg, opts)
   vim.notify(
     msg,
     vim.log.levels.INFO,
-    vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+    utils.merge({
       title = title,
     }, opts)
   )
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ function Logger:warn(msg, opts)
   vim.notify(
     msg,
     vim.log.levels.WARN,
-    vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+    utils.merge({
       title = title,
     }, opts)
   )
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ function Logger:error(msg, opts)
   vim.notify(
     msg,
     vim.log.levels.ERROR,
-    vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', {
+    utils.merge({
       title = title,
     }, opts)
   )