diff --git a/crates/nu-ansi-term/src/style.rs b/crates/nu-ansi-term/src/style.rs
index ec72dbdb31..a11002e028 100644
--- a/crates/nu-ansi-term/src/style.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-ansi-term/src/style.rs
@@ -368,6 +368,12 @@ pub enum Color {
     Rgb(u8, u8, u8),
 }
 
+impl Default for Color {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Color::White
+    }
+}
+
 impl Color {
     /// Returns a `Style` with the foreground color set to this color.
     ///
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/shell/helper.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/shell/helper.rs
index 5502d49ad2..49dfc0c2ed 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/shell/helper.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/shell/helper.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,12 @@ impl rustyline::highlight::Highlighter for Helper {
     }
 
     fn highlight<'l>(&self, line: &'l str, _pos: usize) -> Cow<'l, str> {
-        Painter::paint_string(line, &self.context.scope, &DefaultPalette {})
+        let cfg = &self.context.configs.lock();
+        if let Some(palette) = &cfg.syntax_config {
+            Painter::paint_string(line, &self.context.scope, palette)
+        } else {
+            Painter::paint_string(line, &self.context.scope, &DefaultPalette {})
+        }
     }
 
     fn highlight_char(&self, _line: &str, _pos: usize) -> bool {
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/config_holder.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/config_holder.rs
index d6079a3265..388460859d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/config_holder.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/config_holder.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
-use std::path::Path;
-
+use crate::shell::palette::ThemedPalette;
 use nu_data::config::NuConfig;
 use nu_protocol::ConfigPath;
+use std::path::Path;
 
 /// ConfigHolder holds information which configs have been loaded.
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct ConfigHolder {
     pub global_config: Option<NuConfig>,
     pub local_configs: Vec<NuConfig>,
+    pub syntax_config: Option<ThemedPalette>,
 }
 
 impl Default for ConfigHolder {
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ impl ConfigHolder {
         ConfigHolder {
             global_config: None,
             local_configs: vec![],
+            syntax_config: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -31,6 +33,13 @@ impl ConfigHolder {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn syntax_colors(&self) -> ThemedPalette {
+        match &self.syntax_config {
+            Some(cfg) => cfg.clone(),
+            None => ThemedPalette::default(),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn add_local_cfg(&mut self, cfg: NuConfig) {
         self.local_configs.push(cfg);
     }
@@ -39,6 +48,10 @@ impl ConfigHolder {
         self.global_config = Some(cfg);
     }
 
+    pub fn set_syntax_colors(&mut self, cfg: ThemedPalette) {
+        self.syntax_config = Some(cfg);
+    }
+
     pub fn remove_cfg(&mut self, cfg_path: &ConfigPath) {
         match cfg_path {
             ConfigPath::Global(_) => self.global_config = None,
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/evaluation_context.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/evaluation_context.rs
index da32cda2b9..b0294f9fd7 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/evaluation_context.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/evaluation_context.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::evaluate::scope::{Scope, ScopeFrame};
+use crate::shell::palette::ThemedPalette;
 use crate::shell::shell_manager::ShellManager;
 use crate::whole_stream_command::Command;
 use crate::{call_info::UnevaluatedCallInfo, config_holder::ConfigHolder};
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ use nu_source::{Span, Tag};
 use nu_stream::InputStream;
 use nu_test_support::NATIVE_PATH_ENV_VAR;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
+use std::fs::File;
+use std::io::BufReader;
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
 use std::{path::Path, sync::Arc};
 
@@ -212,6 +215,51 @@ impl EvaluationContext {
             }
         }
 
+        // The syntax_theme is really the file stem of a json file i.e.
+        // grape.json is the theme file and grape is the file stem and
+        // the syntax_theme and grape.json would be located in the same
+        // folder as the config.toml
+
+        // Let's open the config
+        let global_config = self.configs.lock().global_config();
+        // Get the root syntax_theme value
+        let syntax_theme = global_config.var("syntax_theme");
+        // If we have a syntax_theme let's process it
+        if let Some(theme_value) = syntax_theme {
+            // Append the .json to the syntax_theme to form the file name
+            let syntax_theme_filename = format!("{}.json", theme_value.convert_to_string());
+            // Load the syntax config json
+            let config_file_path = cfg_path.get_path();
+            // The syntax file should be in the same location as the config.toml
+            let syntax_file_path = if config_file_path.ends_with("config.toml") {
+                config_file_path
+                    .display()
+                    .to_string()
+                    .replace("config.toml", &syntax_theme_filename)
+            } else {
+                "".to_string()
+            };
+            // if we have a syntax_file_path use it otherwise default
+            if Path::new(&syntax_file_path).exists() {
+                // eprintln!("Loading syntax file: [{:?}]", syntax_file_path);
+                let syntax_theme_file = File::open(syntax_file_path)?;
+                let mut reader = BufReader::new(syntax_theme_file);
+                let theme = ThemedPalette::new(&mut reader).unwrap_or_default();
+                // eprintln!("Theme: [{:?}]", theme);
+                self.configs.lock().set_syntax_colors(theme);
+            } else {
+                // If the file was missing, use the default
+                self.configs
+                    .lock()
+                    .set_syntax_colors(ThemedPalette::default())
+            }
+        } else {
+            // if there's no syntax_theme, use the default
+            self.configs
+                .lock()
+                .set_syntax_colors(ThemedPalette::default())
+        };
+
         if !startup_scripts.is_empty() {
             self.run_scripts(startup_scripts, cfg_path.get_path().parent());
         }
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/shell/palette.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/shell/palette.rs
index 9437b7688c..7a5bf5272d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/shell/palette.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/shell/palette.rs
@@ -7,52 +7,43 @@ use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::str::Bytes;
 use std::{fmt, io};
 
-// FIXME: find a good home, as nu-engine may be too core for styling
 pub trait Palette {
     fn styles_for_shape(&self, shape: &Spanned<FlatShape>) -> Vec<Spanned<Style>>;
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct DefaultPalette {}
 
 impl Palette for DefaultPalette {
     fn styles_for_shape(&self, shape: &Spanned<FlatShape>) -> Vec<Spanned<Style>> {
         match &shape.item {
-            FlatShape::OpenDelimiter(_) => single_style_span(Color::White.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::BareMember => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.bold(), shape.span),
             FlatShape::CloseDelimiter(_) => single_style_span(Color::White.normal(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::ItVariable | FlatShape::Keyword => {
-                single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span)
-            }
-            FlatShape::Variable | FlatShape::Identifier => {
-                single_style_span(Color::Purple.normal(), shape.span)
-            }
-            FlatShape::Type => single_style_span(Color::Blue.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Operator => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Comment => single_style_span(Color::Green.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Decimal => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Dot => single_style_span(Style::new().fg(Color::White), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::DotDot => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.bold(), shape.span),
             FlatShape::DotDotLeftAngleBracket => {
                 single_style_span(Color::Yellow.bold(), shape.span)
             }
-            FlatShape::DotDot => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Dot => single_style_span(Style::new().fg(Color::White), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::InternalCommand => single_style_span(Color::Cyan.bold(), shape.span),
             FlatShape::ExternalCommand => single_style_span(Color::Cyan.normal(), shape.span),
             FlatShape::ExternalWord => single_style_span(Color::Green.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::BareMember => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::StringMember => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::String => single_style_span(Color::Green.normal(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Path => single_style_span(Color::Cyan.normal(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::GlobPattern => single_style_span(Color::Cyan.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Word => single_style_span(Color::Green.normal(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Pipe => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
             FlatShape::Flag => single_style_span(Color::Blue.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::ShorthandFlag => single_style_span(Color::Blue.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Int => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Decimal => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
-            FlatShape::Whitespace | FlatShape::Separator => {
-                single_style_span(Color::White.normal(), shape.span)
-            }
-            FlatShape::Comment => single_style_span(Color::Green.bold(), shape.span),
             FlatShape::Garbage => {
                 single_style_span(Style::new().fg(Color::White).on(Color::Red), shape.span)
             }
+            FlatShape::GlobPattern => single_style_span(Color::Cyan.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Identifier => single_style_span(Color::Purple.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Int => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::InternalCommand => single_style_span(Color::Cyan.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::ItVariable => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Keyword => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::OpenDelimiter(_) => single_style_span(Color::White.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Operator => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Path => single_style_span(Color::Cyan.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Pipe => single_style_span(Color::Purple.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Separator => single_style_span(Color::White.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::ShorthandFlag => single_style_span(Color::Blue.bold(), shape.span),
             FlatShape::Size { number, unit } => vec![
                 Spanned::<Style> {
                     span: *number,
@@ -63,21 +54,31 @@ impl Palette for DefaultPalette {
                     item: Color::Cyan.bold(),
                 },
             ],
+            FlatShape::String => single_style_span(Color::Green.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::StringMember => single_style_span(Color::Yellow.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Type => single_style_span(Color::Blue.bold(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Variable => single_style_span(Color::Purple.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Whitespace => single_style_span(Color::White.normal(), shape.span),
+            FlatShape::Word => single_style_span(Color::Green.normal(), shape.span),
         }
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct ThemedPalette {
     theme: Theme,
 }
 
 impl ThemedPalette {
-    // remove this once we start actually loading themes.
-    #[allow(dead_code)]
     pub fn new<R: io::Read>(reader: &mut R) -> Result<ThemedPalette, ThemeError> {
         let theme = serde_json::from_reader(reader)?;
         Ok(ThemedPalette { theme })
     }
+
+    pub fn default() -> ThemedPalette {
+        let theme = Theme::default();
+        ThemedPalette { theme }
+    }
 }
 
 impl Palette for ThemedPalette {
@@ -168,41 +169,114 @@ impl From<serde_json::error::Error> for ThemeError {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug)]
 struct Theme {
-    open_delimiter: ThemeColor,
+    bare_member: ThemeColor,
     close_delimiter: ThemeColor,
-    r#type: ThemeColor,
-    identifier: ThemeColor,
-    it_variable: ThemeColor,
-    variable: ThemeColor,
-    operator: ThemeColor,
+    comment: ThemeColor,
+    decimal: ThemeColor,
     dot: ThemeColor,
     dot_dot: ThemeColor,
-    internal_command: ThemeColor,
+    dot_dot_left_angle_bracket: ThemeColor,
     external_command: ThemeColor,
     external_word: ThemeColor,
-    bare_member: ThemeColor,
-    string_member: ThemeColor,
-    string: ThemeColor,
-    path: ThemeColor,
-    word: ThemeColor,
-    keyword: ThemeColor,
-    pipe: ThemeColor,
-    glob_pattern: ThemeColor,
     flag: ThemeColor,
-    shorthand_flag: ThemeColor,
-    int: ThemeColor,
-    decimal: ThemeColor,
     garbage: ThemeColor,
-    whitespace: ThemeColor,
+    glob_pattern: ThemeColor,
+    identifier: ThemeColor,
+    int: ThemeColor,
+    internal_command: ThemeColor,
+    it_variable: ThemeColor,
+    keyword: ThemeColor,
+    open_delimiter: ThemeColor,
+    operator: ThemeColor,
+    path: ThemeColor,
+    pipe: ThemeColor,
     separator: ThemeColor,
-    comment: ThemeColor,
+    shorthand_flag: ThemeColor,
     size_number: ThemeColor,
     size_unit: ThemeColor,
+    string: ThemeColor,
+    string_member: ThemeColor,
+    r#type: ThemeColor,
+    variable: ThemeColor,
+    whitespace: ThemeColor,
+    word: ThemeColor,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+impl Default for Theme {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Theme {
+            bare_member: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow),
+            close_delimiter: ThemeColor(Color::White),
+            comment: ThemeColor(Color::Green),
+            decimal: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            dot: ThemeColor(Color::White),
+            dot_dot: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow),
+            dot_dot_left_angle_bracket: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow),
+            external_command: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan),
+            external_word: ThemeColor(Color::Green),
+            flag: ThemeColor(Color::Blue),
+            garbage: ThemeColor(Color::Red),
+            glob_pattern: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan),
+            identifier: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            int: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            internal_command: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan),
+            it_variable: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            keyword: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            open_delimiter: ThemeColor(Color::White),
+            operator: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow),
+            path: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan),
+            pipe: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            separator: ThemeColor(Color::Red),
+            shorthand_flag: ThemeColor(Color::Blue),
+            size_number: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            size_unit: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan),
+            string: ThemeColor(Color::Green),
+            string_member: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow),
+            r#type: ThemeColor(Color::Blue),
+            variable: ThemeColor(Color::Purple),
+            whitespace: ThemeColor(Color::White),
+            word: ThemeColor(Color::Green),
+            // These should really be Syles and not colors
+            // leave this here for the next change to make
+            // ThemeColor, ThemeStyle.
+            // open_delimiter: ThemeColor(Color::White.normal()),
+            // close_delimiter: ThemeColor(Color::White.normal()),
+            // it_variable: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.bold()),
+            // variable: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.normal()),
+            // r#type: ThemeColor(Color::Blue.bold()),
+            // identifier: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.normal()),
+            // operator: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow.normal()),
+            // dot: ThemeColor(Color::White),
+            // dot_dot: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow.bold()),
+            // //missing DotDotLeftAngleBracket
+            // internal_command: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan.bold()),
+            // external_command: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan.normal()),
+            // external_word: ThemeColor(Color::Green.bold()),
+            // bare_member: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow.bold()),
+            // string: ThemeColor(Color::Green.normal()),
+            // string_member: ThemeColor(Color::Yellow.bold()),
+            // path: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan.normal()),
+            // glob_pattern: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan.bold()),
+            // word: ThemeColor(Color::Green.normal()),
+            // keyword: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.bold()),
+            // pipe: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.bold()),
+            // flag: ThemeColor(Color::Blue.bold()),
+            // shorthand_flag: ThemeColor(Color::Blue.bold()),
+            // int: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.bold()),
+            // decimal: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.bold()),
+            // garbage: ThemeColor(Style::new().fg(Color::White).on(Color::Red)),
+            // whitespace: ThemeColor(Color::White.normal()),
+            // separator: ThemeColor(Color::Red),
+            // comment: ThemeColor(Color::Green.bold()),
+            // size_number: ThemeColor(Color::Purple.bold()),
+            // size_unit: ThemeColor(Color::Cyan.bold()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 struct ThemeColor(Color);
 
 impl Deref for ThemeColor {
@@ -287,36 +361,37 @@ mod tests {
     fn create_themed_palette() {
         let json = r#"
 {
-    "open_delimiter": "a359cc",
+    "bare_member": "a359cc",
     "close_delimiter": "a359cc",
-    "type": "a359cc",
-    "identifier": "a359cc",
-    "it_variable": "a359cc",
-    "variable": "a359cc",
-    "operator": "a359cc",
+    "comment": "a359cc",
+    "decimal": "a359cc",
     "dot": "a359cc",
     "dot_dot": "a359cc",
-    "internal_command": "a359cc",
+    "dot_dot_left_angle_bracket": "a359cc",
     "external_command": "a359cc",
     "external_word": "a359cc",
-    "bare_member": "a359cc",
-    "string_member": "a359cc",
-    "string": "a359cc",
-    "path": "a359cc",
-    "word": "a359cc",
-    "keyword": "a359cc",
-    "pipe": "a359cc",
-    "glob_pattern": "a359cc",
     "flag": "a359cc",
-    "shorthand_flag": "a359cc",
-    "int": "a359cc",
-    "decimal": "a359cc",
     "garbage": "a359cc",
-    "whitespace": "a359cc",
+    "glob_pattern": "a359cc",
+    "identifier": "a359cc",
+    "int": "a359cc",
+    "internal_command": "a359cc",
+    "it_variable": "a359cc",
+    "keyword": "a359cc",
+    "open_delimiter": "a359cc",
+    "operator": "a359cc",
+    "path": "a359cc",
+    "pipe": "a359cc",
     "separator": "a359cc",
-    "comment": "a359cc",
+    "shorthand_flag": "a359cc",
     "size_number": "a359cc",
-    "size_unit": "a359cc"
+    "size_unit": "a359cc",
+    "string": "a359cc",
+    "string_member": "a359cc",
+    "type": "a359cc",
+    "variable": "a359cc",
+    "whitespace": "a359cc",
+    "word": "a359cc"
 }"#;
         let mut json_reader = Cursor::new(json);
         let themed_palette = ThemedPalette::new(&mut json_reader).unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/hir.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/hir.rs
index 697c6c6042..ba86287206 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/hir.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/hir.rs
@@ -1461,36 +1461,36 @@ pub enum Delimiter {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone)]
 pub enum FlatShape {
-    OpenDelimiter(Delimiter),
+    BareMember,
     CloseDelimiter(Delimiter),
-    Type,
-    Identifier,
-    ItVariable,
-    Variable,
-    Operator,
+    Comment,
+    Decimal,
     Dot,
     DotDot,
     DotDotLeftAngleBracket,
-    InternalCommand,
     ExternalCommand,
     ExternalWord,
-    BareMember,
-    StringMember,
-    String,
-    Path,
-    Word,
-    Keyword,
-    Pipe,
-    GlobPattern,
     Flag,
-    ShorthandFlag,
-    Int,
-    Decimal,
     Garbage,
-    Whitespace,
+    GlobPattern,
+    Identifier,
+    Int,
+    InternalCommand,
+    ItVariable,
+    Keyword,
+    OpenDelimiter(Delimiter),
+    Operator,
+    Path,
+    Pipe,
     Separator,
-    Comment,
+    ShorthandFlag,
     Size { number: Span, unit: Span },
+    String,
+    StringMember,
+    Type,
+    Variable,
+    Whitespace,
+    Word,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
diff --git a/docs/sample_config/rwb.json b/docs/sample_config/rwb.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9dd56b7c67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/sample_config/rwb.json
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+  "bare_member": "ff0000",
+  "close_delimiter": "ffffff",
+  "comment": "ff0000",
+  "decimal": "0000ff",
+  "dot": "ffffff",
+  "dot_dot": "0000ff",
+  "dot_dot_left_angle_bracket": "00ff00",
+  "external_command": "ffffff",
+  "external_word": "0000ff",
+  "flag": "0000ff",
+  "garbage": "ff0000",
+  "glob_pattern": "ffffff",
+  "identifier": "ff0000",
+  "int": "ffffff",
+  "internal_command": "ff0000",
+  "it_variable": "ffffff",
+  "keyword": "0000ff",
+  "open_delimiter": "ff0000",
+  "operator": "ff0000",
+  "path": "ff0000",
+  "pipe": "ff0000",
+  "separator": "0000ff",
+  "shorthand_flag": "ff0000",
+  "size_number": "ffffff",
+  "size_unit": "0000ff",
+  "string": "0000ff",
+  "string_member": "ffffff",
+  "type": "0000ff",
+  "variable": "0000ff",
+  "whitespace": "ffffff",
+  "word": "ffffff"
+}