diff --git a/src/window.py b/src/window.py
index adc6d6d..1cb6bec 100644
--- a/src/window.py
+++ b/src/window.py
@@ -34,6 +34,15 @@ import unicodedata
 import emoji
 import os
 
+def get_data_dir():
+    xdg_data_home = os.environ.get('XDG_DATA_HOME')
+    if xdg_data_home and xdg_data_home.strip():
+        data_dir = os.path.join(xdg_data_home, 'ascii-draw', 'data')
+    else:
+        home = os.path.expanduser("~")
+        data_dir = os.path.join(home, '.local', 'share', 'ascii-draw', 'data')
+    return data_dir
+
 @Gtk.Template(resource_path='/io/github/nokse22/asciidraw/ui/window.ui')
 class AsciiDrawWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
     __gtype_name__ = 'AsciiDrawWindow'
@@ -266,7 +275,7 @@ class AsciiDrawWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
 
         self.palettes = []
 
-        directory_path = "/var/data/palettes"
+        directory_path = f"{get_data_dir()}/palettes"
         os.makedirs(directory_path, exist_ok=True)
 
         for filename in os.listdir(directory_path):
@@ -316,7 +325,7 @@ class AsciiDrawWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
             self.char_carousel_go_next.set_sensitive(True)
 
     def save_new_palette(self, palette):
-        with open(f"/var/data/palettes/{palette.name}.txt", 'w') as file:
+        with open(f"{get_data_dir()}/palettes/{palette.name}.txt", 'w') as file:
             file.write(palette.chars)
 
     @Gtk.Template.Callback("char_pages_go_back")