diff --git a/progress/bar.py b/progress/bar.py
index 8819efd..5637196 100644
--- a/progress/bar.py
+++ b/progress/bar.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import sys
 
 from . import Progress
+from .colors import color
 
 
 class Bar(Progress):
@@ -28,13 +29,14 @@ class Bar(Progress):
     bar_suffix = '| '
     empty_fill = ' '
     fill = '#'
+    color = None
 
     def update(self):
         filled_length = int(self.width * self.progress)
         empty_length = self.width - filled_length
 
         message = self.message % self
-        bar = self.fill * filled_length
+        bar = color(self.fill * filled_length, fg=self.color)
         empty = self.empty_fill * empty_length
         suffix = self.suffix % self
         line = ''.join([message, self.bar_prefix, bar, empty, self.bar_suffix,
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ class IncrementalBar(Bar):
         nempty = self.width - nfull                  # Number of empty chars
 
         message = self.message % self
-        bar = self.phases[-1] * nfull
+        bar = color(self.phases[-1] * nfull, fg=self.color)
         current = self.phases[phase] if phase > 0 else ''
         empty = self.empty_fill * max(0, nempty - len(current))
         suffix = self.suffix % self
diff --git a/progress/colors.py b/progress/colors.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e770f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/progress/colors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# Copyright (c) 2020 Georgios Verigakis <verigak@gmail.com>
+#
+# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
+# purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+# copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+# WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+# MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+# ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+# WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+# ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+# OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+
+from functools import partial
+
+
+COLORS = ('black', 'red', 'green', 'yellow', 'blue', 'magenta', 'cyan',
+          'white')
+STYLES = ('bold', 'faint', 'italic', 'underline', 'blink', 'blink2',
+          'negative', 'concealed', 'crossed')
+
+
+def color(s, fg=None, bg=None, style=None):
+    sgr = []
+
+    if fg:
+        if fg in COLORS:
+            sgr.append(str(30 + COLORS.index(fg)))
+        elif isinstance(fg, int) and 0 <= fg <= 255:
+            sgr.append('38;5;%d' % int(fg))
+        else:
+            raise Exception('Invalid color "%s"' % fg)
+
+    if bg:
+        if bg in COLORS:
+            sgr.append(str(40 + COLORS.index(bg)))
+        elif isinstance(bg, int) and 0 <= bg <= 255:
+            sgr.append('48;5;%d' % bg)
+        else:
+            raise Exception('Invalid color "%s"' % bg)
+
+    if style:
+        for st in style.split('+'):
+            if st in STYLES:
+                sgr.append(str(1 + STYLES.index(st)))
+            else:
+                raise Exception('Invalid style "%s"' % st)
+
+    if sgr:
+        prefix = '\x1b[' + ';'.join(sgr) + 'm'
+        suffix = '\x1b[0m'
+        return prefix + s + suffix
+    else:
+        return s
+
+
+# Foreground shortcuts
+black = partial(color, fg='black')
+red = partial(color, fg='red')
+green = partial(color, fg='green')
+yellow = partial(color, fg='yellow')
+blue = partial(color, fg='blue')
+magenta = partial(color, fg='magenta')
+cyan = partial(color, fg='cyan')
+white = partial(color, fg='white')
+
+# Style shortcuts
+bold = partial(color, style='bold')
+faint = partial(color, style='faint')
+italic = partial(color, style='italic')
+underline = partial(color, style='underline')
+blink = partial(color, style='blink')
+blink2 = partial(color, style='blink2')
+negative = partial(color, style='negative')
+concealed = partial(color, style='concealed')
+crossed = partial(color, style='crossed')
diff --git a/test_progress.py b/test_progress.py
index 4c61bf0..802bd2e 100755
--- a/test_progress.py
+++ b/test_progress.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from progress.bar import (Bar, ChargingBar, FillingSquaresBar,
 from progress.spinner import (Spinner, PieSpinner, MoonSpinner, LineSpinner,
                               PixelSpinner)
 from progress.counter import Counter, Countdown, Stack, Pie
+from progress.colors import bold
 
 
 def sleep():
@@ -32,6 +33,10 @@ for bar_cls in (IncrementalBar, PixelBar, ShadyBar):
             bar.next()
             sleep()
 
+bar = IncrementalBar(bold('Corolored'), color='green')
+for i in bar.iter(range(200)):
+    sleep()
+
 for spin in (Spinner, PieSpinner, MoonSpinner, LineSpinner, PixelSpinner):
     for i in spin(spin.__name__ + ' %(index)d ').iter(range(100)):
         sleep()