my %colors = ( but_quit => { '-background' => 'red', '-foreground' => 'black', }, lbl => { '-background' => 'tan', '-foreground' => 'black', }, ent => { '-background' => 'white', '-foreground' => 'black', }, ); $frame->LabEntry(-label=>"IP Address", -labelWidth=>$lblwidth, -labelPack=>[-side=>'left', -anchor=>'w'], -textvariable => \$ServiceSystem, $colors{lbl} ) #### lbl => { '-background => tan, -foreground => black', },