diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 1d72ef8ea..11db0f192 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2550,6 +2550,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nu-parser",
  "nu-path",
  "nu-protocol",
+ "nu-table",
  "nu-test-support",
  "nu-utils",
  "percent-encoding",
@@ -2564,10 +2565,13 @@ name = "nu-color-config"
 version = "0.72.2"
 dependencies = [
  "nu-ansi-term",
- "nu-json",
+ "nu-engine",
+ "nu-path",
  "nu-protocol",
- "nu-table",
+ "nu-test-support",
+ "nu-utils",
  "serde",
+ "tabled",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2812,9 +2816,14 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "nu-table"
 version = "0.72.2"
 dependencies = [
+ "atty",
  "json_to_table",
  "nu-ansi-term",
+ "nu-color-config",
+ "nu-engine",
+ "nu-path",
  "nu-protocol",
+ "nu-test-support",
  "nu-utils",
  "serde_json",
  "tabled",
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/Cargo.toml b/crates/nu-cli/Cargo.toml
index 8b4d9afa2..d082be6cd 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ nu-path = { path = "../nu-path", version = "0.72.2"  }
 nu-parser = { path = "../nu-parser", version = "0.72.2"  }
 nu-protocol = { path = "../nu-protocol", version = "0.72.2"  }
 nu-utils = { path = "../nu-utils", version = "0.72.2"  }
+nu-table = { path = "../nu-table", version = "0.72.2"  }
 nu-ansi-term = "0.46.0"
 nu-color-config = { path = "../nu-color-config", version = "0.72.2"  }
 reedline = { version = "0.14.0", features = ["bashisms", "sqlite"]}
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/reedline_config.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/reedline_config.rs
index f27a832b7..c7cbffb08 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/reedline_config.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/reedline_config.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 use super::DescriptionMenu;
 use crate::{menus::NuMenuCompleter, NuHelpCompleter};
 use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyModifiers};
-use nu_color_config::lookup_ansi_color_style;
+use nu_color_config::{color_record_to_nustyle, lookup_ansi_color_style};
 use nu_engine::eval_block;
 use nu_parser::parse;
 use nu_protocol::{
-    color_value_string, create_menus,
+    create_menus,
     engine::{EngineState, Stack, StateWorkingSet},
     extract_value, Config, IntoPipelineData, ParsedKeybinding, ParsedMenu, PipelineData,
     ShellError, Span, Value,
@@ -159,14 +159,11 @@ macro_rules! add_style {
     ($name:expr, $cols: expr, $vals:expr, $span:expr, $config: expr, $menu:expr, $f:expr) => {
         $menu = match extract_value($name, $cols, $vals, $span) {
             Ok(text) => {
-                let text = match text {
-                    Value::String { val, .. } => val.clone(),
-                    Value::Record { cols, vals, span } => {
-                        color_value_string(span, cols, vals, $config).into_string("", $config)
-                    }
-                    _ => "green".to_string(),
+                let style = match text {
+                    Value::String { val, .. } => lookup_ansi_color_style(&val),
+                    Value::Record { .. } => color_record_to_nustyle(&text),
+                    _ => lookup_ansi_color_style("green"),
                 };
-                let style = lookup_ansi_color_style(&text);
                 $f($menu, style)
             }
             Err(_) => $menu,
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/repl.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/repl.rs
index 2fb12d162..283a96c07 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/repl.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/repl.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use fancy_regex::Regex;
 use lazy_static::lazy_static;
 use log::{info, trace, warn};
 use miette::{IntoDiagnostic, Result};
-use nu_color_config::get_color_config;
+use nu_color_config::StyleComputer;
 use nu_engine::{convert_env_values, eval_block, eval_block_with_early_return};
 use nu_parser::{lex, parse, trim_quotes_str};
 use nu_protocol::{
@@ -174,8 +174,6 @@ pub fn evaluate_repl(
 
         info!("setup colors {}:{}:{}", file!(), line!(), column!());
 
-        let color_hm = get_color_config(config);
-
         info!("update reedline {}:{}:{}", file!(), line!(), column!());
         let engine_reference = std::sync::Arc::new(engine_state.clone());
         line_editor = line_editor
@@ -194,10 +192,14 @@ pub fn evaluate_repl(
             .with_partial_completions(config.partial_completions)
             .with_ansi_colors(config.use_ansi_coloring);
 
+        let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(engine_state, stack);
+
         line_editor = if config.use_ansi_coloring {
-            line_editor.with_hinter(Box::new(
-                DefaultHinter::default().with_style(color_hm["hints"]),
-            ))
+            line_editor.with_hinter(Box::new({
+                // As of Nov 2022, "hints" color_config closures only get `null` passed in.
+                let style = style_computer.compute("hints", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown()));
+                DefaultHinter::default().with_style(style)
+            }))
         } else {
             line_editor.disable_hints()
         };
@@ -928,7 +930,7 @@ pub fn eval_hook(
     Ok(output)
 }
 
-pub fn run_hook_block(
+fn run_hook_block(
     engine_state: &EngineState,
     stack: &mut Stack,
     block_id: BlockId,
diff --git a/crates/nu-color-config/Cargo.toml b/crates/nu-color-config/Cargo.toml
index d211b215e..04e9c2b62 100644
--- a/crates/nu-color-config/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/nu-color-config/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,8 +8,14 @@ name = "nu-color-config"
 version = "0.72.2"
 
 [dependencies]
+serde = { version="1.0.123", features=["derive"] }
+# used only for text_style Alignments
+tabled = { version = "0.10.0", features = ["color"], default-features = false }
+
 nu-protocol = { path = "../nu-protocol", version = "0.72.2"  }
 nu-ansi-term = "0.46.0"
-nu-json = { path = "../nu-json", version = "0.72.2"  }
-nu-table = { path = "../nu-table", version = "0.72.2"  }
-serde = { version="1.0.123", features=["derive"] }
+nu-utils = { path = "../nu-utils", version = "0.72.2" }
+nu-engine = { path = "../nu-engine", version = "0.72.2" }
+nu-test-support = { path="../nu-test-support", version = "0.72.2"  }
+# nu-path is used only for test support
+nu-path = { path="../nu-path", version = "0.72.2"  }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/crates/nu-color-config/src/color_config.rs b/crates/nu-color-config/src/color_config.rs
index 52dc45d45..56d182871 100644
--- a/crates/nu-color-config/src/color_config.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-color-config/src/color_config.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-use crate::nu_style::{color_from_hex, color_string_to_nustyle, lookup_style};
-use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Style};
-use nu_protocol::{Config, Value};
-use nu_table::{Alignment, TextStyle};
+use crate::nu_style::{color_from_hex, lookup_style};
+use nu_ansi_term::Style;
+use nu_protocol::Value;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 pub fn lookup_ansi_color_style(s: &str) -> Style {
@@ -10,13 +9,12 @@ pub fn lookup_ansi_color_style(s: &str) -> Style {
             .ok()
             .and_then(|c| c.map(|c| c.normal()))
             .unwrap_or_default()
-    } else if s.starts_with('{') {
-        color_string_to_nustyle(s.to_string())
     } else {
         lookup_style(s)
     }
 }
 
+// These two are used only for Explore's very limited color config
 fn update_hashmap(key: &str, val: &str, hm: &mut HashMap<String, Style>) {
     // eprintln!("key: {}, val: {}", &key, &val);
     let color = lookup_ansi_color_style(val);
@@ -27,49 +25,6 @@ fn update_hashmap(key: &str, val: &str, hm: &mut HashMap<String, Style>) {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn get_color_config(config: &Config) -> HashMap<String, Style> {
-    let config = config;
-
-    // create the hashmap
-    let mut hm: HashMap<String, Style> = HashMap::new();
-    // set some defaults
-    // hm.insert("primitive_line".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    // hm.insert("primitive_pattern".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    // hm.insert("primitive_path".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("separator".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert(
-        "leading_trailing_space_bg".to_string(),
-        Style::default().on(Color::Rgb(128, 128, 128)),
-    );
-    hm.insert("header".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
-    hm.insert("empty".to_string(), Color::Blue.normal());
-    hm.insert("bool".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("int".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("filesize".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("duration".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("date".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("range".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("float".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("string".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("nothing".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("binary".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("cellpath".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("row_index".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
-    hm.insert("record".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("list".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("block".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("hints".to_string(), Color::DarkGray.normal());
-
-    for (key, value) in &config.color_config {
-        match value.as_string() {
-            Ok(value) => update_hashmap(key, &value, &mut hm),
-            Err(_) => continue,
-        }
-    }
-
-    hm
-}
-
 pub fn get_color_map(colors: &HashMap<String, Value>) -> HashMap<String, Style> {
     let mut hm: HashMap<String, Style> = HashMap::new();
 
@@ -81,189 +36,3 @@ pub fn get_color_map(colors: &HashMap<String, Value>) -> HashMap<String, Style>
 
     hm
 }
-
-// This function will assign a text style to a primitive, or really any string that's
-// in the hashmap. The hashmap actually contains the style to be applied.
-pub fn style_primitive(primitive: &str, color_hm: &HashMap<String, Style>) -> TextStyle {
-    match primitive {
-        "bool" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "int" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Right, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "filesize" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Right, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "duration" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "date" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "range" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "float" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Right, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "string" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "nothing" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        // not sure what to do with error
-        // "error" => {}
-        "binary" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "cellpath" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "row_index" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Right, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::new()
-                    .alignment(Alignment::Right)
-                    .fg(Color::Green)
-                    .bold(Some(true)),
-            }
-        }
-
-        "record" | "list" | "block" => {
-            let style = color_hm.get(primitive);
-            match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-            }
-        }
-
-        // types in nushell but not in engine-q
-        // "Line" => {
-        //     let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Line");
-        //     match style {
-        //         Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-        //         None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-        //     }
-        // }
-        // "GlobPattern" => {
-        //     let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::GlobPattern");
-        //     match style {
-        //         Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-        //         None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-        //     }
-        // }
-        // "FilePath" => {
-        //     let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::FilePath");
-        //     match style {
-        //         Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-        //         None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-        //     }
-        // }
-        // "BeginningOfStream" => {
-        //     let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::BeginningOfStream");
-        //     match style {
-        //         Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-        //         None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-        //     }
-        // }
-        // "EndOfStream" => {
-        //     let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::EndOfStream");
-        //     match style {
-        //         Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-        //         None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-        //     }
-        // }
-        _ => TextStyle::basic_left(),
-    }
-}
-
-#[test]
-fn test_hm() {
-    use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Style};
-
-    let mut hm: HashMap<String, Style> = HashMap::new();
-    hm.insert("primitive_int".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_decimal".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_filesize".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_string".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_line".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_columnpath".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_pattern".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_boolean".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_date".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_duration".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_range".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_path".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("primitive_binary".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("separator".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("header_align".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
-    hm.insert("header".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
-    hm.insert("header_style".to_string(), Style::default());
-    hm.insert("row_index".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
-    hm.insert(
-        "leading_trailing_space_bg".to_string(),
-        Style::default().on(Color::Rgb(128, 128, 128)),
-    );
-
-    update_hashmap("primitive_int", "green", &mut hm);
-
-    assert_eq!(hm["primitive_int"], Color::Green.normal());
-}
diff --git a/crates/nu-color-config/src/lib.rs b/crates/nu-color-config/src/lib.rs
index b5441979e..3bd4dc9e4 100644
--- a/crates/nu-color-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-color-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,12 @@ mod color_config;
 mod matching_brackets_style;
 mod nu_style;
 mod shape_color;
+mod style_computer;
+mod text_style;
 
 pub use color_config::*;
 pub use matching_brackets_style::*;
 pub use nu_style::*;
 pub use shape_color::*;
+pub use style_computer::*;
+pub use text_style::*;
diff --git a/crates/nu-color-config/src/nu_style.rs b/crates/nu-color-config/src/nu_style.rs
index ef6626716..777582cd3 100644
--- a/crates/nu-color-config/src/nu_style.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-color-config/src/nu_style.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Style};
+use nu_protocol::Value;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, PartialEq, Eq, Debug)]
@@ -83,22 +84,29 @@ pub fn parse_nustyle(nu_style: NuStyle) -> Style {
     style
 }
 
-pub fn color_string_to_nustyle(color_string: String) -> Style {
-    // eprintln!("color_string: {}", &color_string);
-    if color_string.chars().count() < 1 {
-        Style::default()
-    } else {
-        let nu_style = match nu_json::from_str::<NuStyle>(&color_string) {
-            Ok(s) => s,
-            Err(_) => NuStyle {
-                fg: None,
-                bg: None,
-                attr: None,
-            },
-        };
+// Converts the color_config records, { fg, bg, attr }, into a Style.
+pub fn color_record_to_nustyle(value: &Value) -> Style {
+    let mut fg = None;
+    let mut bg = None;
+    let mut attr = None;
+    let v = value.as_record();
+    if let Ok((cols, inner_vals)) = v {
+        for (k, v) in cols.iter().zip(inner_vals) {
+            // Because config already type-checked the color_config records, this doesn't bother giving errors
+            // if there are unrecognised keys or bad values.
+            if let Ok(v) = v.as_string() {
+                match k.as_str() {
+                    "fg" => fg = Some(v),
 
-        parse_nustyle(nu_style)
+                    "bg" => bg = Some(v),
+
+                    "attr" => attr = Some(v),
+                    _ => (),
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
+    parse_nustyle(NuStyle { fg, bg, attr })
 }
 
 pub fn color_from_hex(
diff --git a/crates/nu-color-config/src/style_computer.rs b/crates/nu-color-config/src/style_computer.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b8c37a249
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-color-config/src/style_computer.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+use crate::{color_record_to_nustyle, lookup_ansi_color_style, TextStyle};
+use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Style};
+use nu_engine::eval_block;
+use nu_protocol::{
+    engine::{EngineState, Stack, StateWorkingSet},
+    CliError, IntoPipelineData, Value,
+};
+use tabled::alignment::AlignmentHorizontal;
+
+use std::{
+    collections::HashMap,
+    fmt::{Debug, Formatter, Result},
+};
+
+// ComputableStyle represents the valid user style types: a single color value, or a closure which
+// takes an input value and produces a color value. The latter represents a value which
+// is computed at use-time.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum ComputableStyle {
+    Static(Style),
+    Closure(Value),
+}
+
+// macro used for adding initial values to the style hashmap
+macro_rules! initial {
+    ($a:expr, $b:expr) => {
+        ($a.to_string(), ComputableStyle::Static($b))
+    };
+}
+
+// An alias for the mapping used internally by StyleComputer.
+pub type StyleMapping = HashMap<String, ComputableStyle>;
+//
+// A StyleComputer is an all-in-one way to compute styles. A nu command can
+// simply create it with from_config(), and then use it with compute().
+// It stores the engine state and stack needed to run closures that
+// may be defined as a user style.
+//
+pub struct StyleComputer<'a> {
+    engine_state: &'a EngineState,
+    stack: &'a Stack,
+    map: StyleMapping,
+}
+
+impl<'a> StyleComputer<'a> {
+    // This is NOT meant to be used in most cases - please use from_config() instead.
+    // This only exists for testing purposes.
+    pub fn new(
+        engine_state: &'a EngineState,
+        stack: &'a Stack,
+        map: StyleMapping,
+    ) -> StyleComputer<'a> {
+        StyleComputer {
+            engine_state,
+            stack,
+            map,
+        }
+    }
+    // The main method. Takes a string name which maps to a color_config style name,
+    // and a Nu value to pipe into any closures that may have been defined there.
+    pub fn compute(&self, style_name: &str, value: &Value) -> Style {
+        match self.map.get(style_name) {
+            // Static values require no computation.
+            Some(ComputableStyle::Static(s)) => *s,
+            // Closures are run here.
+            Some(ComputableStyle::Closure(Value::Closure {
+                val: block_id,
+                captures,
+                span,
+            })) => {
+                let block = self.engine_state.get_block(*block_id).clone();
+                // Because captures_to_stack() clones, we don't need to use with_env() here
+                // (contrast with_env() usage in `each` or `do`).
+                let mut stack = self.stack.captures_to_stack(captures);
+
+                // Support 1-argument blocks as well as 0-argument blocks.
+                if let Some(var) = block.signature.get_positional(0) {
+                    if let Some(var_id) = &var.var_id {
+                        stack.add_var(*var_id, value.clone());
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Run the block.
+                match eval_block(
+                    self.engine_state,
+                    &mut stack,
+                    &block,
+                    value.clone().into_pipeline_data(),
+                    false,
+                    false,
+                ) {
+                    Ok(v) => {
+                        let value = v.into_value(*span);
+                        // These should be the same color data forms supported by color_config.
+                        match value {
+                            Value::Record { .. } => color_record_to_nustyle(&value),
+                            Value::String { val, .. } => lookup_ansi_color_style(&val),
+                            _ => Style::default(),
+                        }
+                    }
+                    // This is basically a copy of nu_cli::report_error(), but that isn't usable due to
+                    // dependencies. While crudely spitting out a bunch of errors like this is not ideal,
+                    // currently hook closure errors behave roughly the same.
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        eprintln!(
+                            "Error: {:?}",
+                            CliError(&e, &StateWorkingSet::new(self.engine_state))
+                        );
+                        Style::default()
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            // There should be no other kinds of values (due to create_map() in config.rs filtering them out)
+            // so this is just a fallback.
+            _ => Style::default(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Used only by the `table` command.
+    pub fn style_primitive(&self, value: &Value) -> TextStyle {
+        let s = self.compute(&value.get_type().to_string(), value);
+        match *value {
+            Value::Bool { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::Int { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Right, s),
+
+            Value::Filesize { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Right, s),
+
+            Value::Duration { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::Date { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::Range { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::Float { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Right, s),
+
+            Value::String { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::Nothing { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::Binary { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::CellPath { .. } => TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s),
+
+            Value::Record { .. } | Value::List { .. } | Value::Block { .. } => {
+                TextStyle::with_style(AlignmentHorizontal::Left, s)
+            }
+            _ => TextStyle::basic_left(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    // The main constructor.
+    pub fn from_config(engine_state: &'a EngineState, stack: &'a Stack) -> StyleComputer<'a> {
+        let config = engine_state.get_config();
+
+        // Create the hashmap
+        let mut map: StyleMapping = HashMap::from([
+            initial!("separator", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!(
+                "leading_trailing_space_bg",
+                Style::default().on(Color::Rgb(128, 128, 128))
+            ),
+            initial!("header", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("empty", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("bool", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("int", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("filesize", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("duration", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("date", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("range", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("float", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("string", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("nothing", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("binary", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("cellpath", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("row_index", Color::Green.bold()),
+            initial!("record", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("list", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("block", Color::White.normal()),
+            initial!("hints", Color::DarkGray.normal()),
+        ]);
+
+        for (key, value) in &config.color_config {
+            match value {
+                Value::Closure { .. } => {
+                    map.insert(key.to_string(), ComputableStyle::Closure(value.clone()));
+                }
+                Value::Record { .. } => {
+                    map.insert(
+                        key.to_string(),
+                        ComputableStyle::Static(color_record_to_nustyle(value)),
+                    );
+                }
+                Value::String { val, .. } => {
+                    // update the stylemap with the found key
+                    let color = lookup_ansi_color_style(val.as_str());
+                    if let Some(v) = map.get_mut(key) {
+                        *v = ComputableStyle::Static(color);
+                    } else {
+                        map.insert(key.to_string(), ComputableStyle::Static(color));
+                    }
+                }
+                // This should never occur.
+                _ => (),
+            }
+        }
+        StyleComputer::new(engine_state, stack, map)
+    }
+}
+
+// Because EngineState doesn't have Debug (Dec 2022),
+// this incomplete representation must be used.
+impl<'a> Debug for StyleComputer<'a> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> Result {
+        f.debug_struct("StyleComputer")
+            .field("map", &self.map)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_computable_style_static() {
+    use nu_protocol::Span;
+
+    let style1 = Style::default().italic();
+    let style2 = Style::default().underline();
+    // Create a "dummy" style_computer for this test.
+    let dummy_engine_state = EngineState::new();
+    let mut dummy_stack = Stack::new();
+    let style_computer = StyleComputer::new(
+        &dummy_engine_state,
+        &mut dummy_stack,
+        HashMap::from([
+            ("string".into(), ComputableStyle::Static(style1)),
+            ("row_index".into(), ComputableStyle::Static(style2)),
+        ]),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        style_computer.compute("string", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown())),
+        style1
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        style_computer.compute("row_index", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown())),
+        style2
+    );
+}
+
+// Because each closure currently runs in a separate environment, checks that the closures have run
+// must use the filesystem.
+#[test]
+fn test_computable_style_closure_basic() {
+    use nu_test_support::{nu, nu_repl_code, playground::Playground};
+    Playground::setup("computable_style_closure_basic", |dirs, _| {
+        let inp = [
+            r#"let-env config = {
+                color_config: {
+                    string: {|e| touch ($e + '.obj'); 'red' }
+                }
+            };"#,
+            "[bell book candle] | table | ignore",
+            "ls | get name | to nuon",
+        ];
+        let actual_repl = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), nu_repl_code(&inp));
+        assert_eq!(actual_repl.err, "");
+        assert_eq!(actual_repl.out, "[bell.obj, book.obj, candle.obj]");
+    });
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_computable_style_closure_errors() {
+    use nu_test_support::{nu, nu_repl_code};
+    let inp = [
+        r#"let-env config = {
+            color_config: {
+                string: {|e| $e + 2 }
+            }
+        };"#,
+        "[bell] | table",
+    ];
+    let actual_repl = nu!(cwd: ".", nu_repl_code(&inp));
+    // Check that the error was printed
+    assert!(actual_repl.err.contains("type mismatch for operator"));
+    // Check that the value was printed
+    assert!(actual_repl.out.contains("bell"));
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/src/textstyle.rs b/crates/nu-color-config/src/text_style.rs
similarity index 92%
rename from crates/nu-table/src/textstyle.rs
rename to crates/nu-color-config/src/text_style.rs
index 8fbe7228b..cba23923b 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/src/textstyle.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-color-config/src/text_style.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Style};
+use std::fmt::Display;
 
 pub type Alignment = tabled::alignment::AlignmentHorizontal;
 
@@ -239,3 +240,23 @@ impl Default for TextStyle {
         Self::new()
     }
 }
+
+impl tabled::papergrid::Color for TextStyle {
+    fn fmt_prefix(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        if let Some(color) = &self.color_style {
+            color.prefix().fmt(f)?;
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn fmt_suffix(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        if let Some(color) = &self.color_style {
+            if !color.is_plain() {
+                f.write_str("\u{1b}[0m")?;
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs
index 53c78b24c..983374254 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use fancy_regex::Regex;
 use nu_ansi_term::{
-    Color::{Default, Red, White},
+    Color::{Red, White},
     Style,
 };
-use nu_color_config::get_color_config;
+use nu_color_config::StyleComputer;
 use nu_engine::{get_full_help, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::{
     ast::Call,
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@ fn help(
     let find: Option<Spanned<String>> = call.get_flag(engine_state, stack, "find")?;
     let rest: Vec<Spanned<String>> = call.rest(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
     let commands = engine_state.get_decl_ids_sorted(false);
-    let config = engine_state.get_config();
-    let color_hm = get_color_config(config);
-    let default_style = Style::new().fg(Default).on(Default);
-    let string_style = match color_hm.get("string") {
-        Some(style) => style,
-        None => &default_style,
-    };
+
+    // 🚩The following two-lines are copied from filters/find.rs:
+    let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(engine_state, stack);
+    // Currently, search results all use the same style.
+    // Also note that this sample string is passed into user-written code (the closure that may or may not be
+    // defined for "string").
+    let string_style = style_computer.compute("string", &Value::string("search result", head));
 
     if let Some(f) = find {
         let org_search_string = f.item.clone();
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ fn help(
                 cols.push("name".into());
                 vals.push(Value::String {
                     val: if key_match {
-                        highlight_search_string(&key, &org_search_string, string_style)?
+                        highlight_search_string(&key, &org_search_string, &string_style)?
                     } else {
                         key
                     },
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ fn help(
                 cols.push("usage".into());
                 vals.push(Value::String {
                     val: if usage_match {
-                        highlight_search_string(&usage, &org_search_string, string_style)?
+                        highlight_search_string(&usage, &org_search_string, &string_style)?
                     } else {
                         usage
                     },
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ fn help(
                                         match highlight_search_string(
                                             term,
                                             &org_search_string,
-                                            string_style,
+                                            &string_style,
                                         ) {
                                             Ok(s) => s,
                                             Err(_) => {
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/filters/find.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/filters/find.rs
index 25fd03d87..48566c60b 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/filters/find.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/filters/find.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ use crate::help::highlight_search_string;
 
 use fancy_regex::Regex;
 use lscolors::{Color as LsColors_Color, LsColors, Style as LsColors_Style};
-use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Color::Default, Style};
-use nu_color_config::get_color_config;
+use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Style};
+use nu_color_config::StyleComputer;
 use nu_engine::{env_to_string, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::{
     ast::Call,
@@ -308,12 +308,12 @@ fn find_with_rest_and_highlight(
         })
         .collect::<Vec<Value>>();
 
-    let color_hm = get_color_config(&config);
-    let default_style = Style::new().fg(Default).on(Default);
-    let string_style = match color_hm.get("string") {
-        Some(style) => *style,
-        None => default_style,
-    };
+    let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(&engine_state, stack);
+    // Currently, search results all use the same style.
+    // Also note that this sample string is passed into user-written code (the closure that may or may not be
+    // defined for "string").
+    let string_style = style_computer.compute("string", &Value::string("search result", span));
+
     let ls_colors_env_str = match stack.get_env_var(&engine_state, "LS_COLORS") {
         Some(v) => Some(env_to_string("LS_COLORS", &v, &engine_state, stack)?),
         None => None,
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs
index 0afaf42ea..2a5615a2a 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ impl Command for External {
         // Translate environment variables from Values to Strings
         let env_vars_str = env_to_strings(engine_state, stack)?;
 
-        fn value_as_spanned(value: Value, name: &String) -> Result<Spanned<String>, ShellError> {
+        fn value_as_spanned(value: Value) -> Result<Spanned<String>, ShellError> {
             let span = value.span()?;
 
             value
@@ -66,11 +66,7 @@ impl Command for External {
                 .map(|item| Spanned { item, span })
                 .map_err(|_| {
                     ShellError::ExternalCommand(
-                        format!(
-                            "Cannot convert {} to a string argument for '{}'",
-                            value.get_type(),
-                            name
-                        ),
+                        format!("Cannot convert {} to a string", value.get_type()),
                         "All arguments to an external command need to be string-compatible".into(),
                         span,
                     )
@@ -87,13 +83,13 @@ impl Command for External {
                     // Example: one_arg may be something like ["ls" "-a"]
                     // convert it to "ls" "-a"
                     for v in vals {
-                        spanned_args.push(value_as_spanned(v, &name.item)?);
+                        spanned_args.push(value_as_spanned(v)?);
                         // for arguments in list, it's always treated as a whole arguments
                         arg_keep_raw.push(true);
                     }
                 }
                 val => {
-                    spanned_args.push(value_as_spanned(val, &name.item)?);
+                    spanned_args.push(value_as_spanned(val)?);
                     match one_arg_expr.expr {
                         // refer to `parse_dollar_expr` function
                         // the expression type of $variable_name, $"($variable_name)"
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/explore.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/explore.rs
index dc8872aa4..2831b7d90 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/explore.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/explore.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
-use std::collections::HashMap;
-
 use nu_ansi_term::{Color, Style};
-use nu_color_config::{get_color_config, get_color_map};
+use nu_color_config::{get_color_map, StyleComputer};
 use nu_engine::CallExt;
 use nu_explore::{
     run_pager,
@@ -13,6 +11,7 @@ use nu_protocol::{
     engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack},
     Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Span, SyntaxShape, Value,
 };
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 /// A `less` like program to render a [Value] as a table.
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ impl Command for Explore {
 
         let ctrlc = engine_state.ctrlc.clone();
         let nu_config = engine_state.get_config();
-        let color_hm = get_color_config(nu_config);
+        let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(engine_state, stack);
 
         let mut config = nu_config.explore.clone();
         prepare_default_config(&mut config);
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ impl Command for Explore {
 
         let style = style_from_config(&config);
 
-        let mut config = PagerConfig::new(nu_config, &color_hm, config);
+        let mut config = PagerConfig::new(nu_config, &style_computer, config);
         config.style = style;
         config.reverse = is_reverse;
         config.peek_value = peek_value;
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ impl Command for Explore {
         config.exit_esc = exit_esc;
         config.show_banner = show_banner;
 
-        let result = run_pager(engine_state, stack, ctrlc, input, config);
+        let result = run_pager(engine_state, &mut stack.clone(), ctrlc, input, config);
 
         match result {
             Ok(Some(value)) => Ok(PipelineData::Value(value, None)),
@@ -128,6 +127,8 @@ impl Command for Explore {
     }
 }
 
+// For now, this doesn't use StyleComputer.
+// As such, closures can't be given as styles for Explore.
 fn is_need_banner(config: &HashMap<String, Value>) -> Option<bool> {
     config.get("help_banner").and_then(|v| v.as_bool().ok())
 }
@@ -170,10 +171,6 @@ fn style_from_config(config: &HashMap<String, Value>) -> StyleConfig {
         style.cmd_bar_background = *s;
     }
 
-    if let Some(s) = colors.get("highlight") {
-        style.highlight = *s;
-    }
-
     if let Some(hm) = config.get("status").and_then(create_map) {
         let colors = get_color_map(&hm);
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs
index 27bc09c32..972572878 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/viewers/table.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use lscolors::{LsColors, Style};
-use nu_color_config::{color_from_hex, get_color_config, style_primitive};
+use nu_color_config::color_from_hex;
+use nu_color_config::{Alignment, StyleComputer, TextStyle};
 use nu_engine::{column::get_columns, env_to_string, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::{
     ast::{Call, PathMember},
@@ -8,11 +9,12 @@ use nu_protocol::{
     PipelineData, PipelineMetadata, RawStream, ShellError, Signature, Span, SyntaxShape,
     TableIndexMode, Value,
 };
-use nu_table::{string_width, Alignment, Table as NuTable, TableConfig, TableTheme, TextStyle};
+use nu_table::{string_width, Table as NuTable, TableConfig, TableTheme};
 use nu_utils::get_ls_colors;
+use rayon::prelude::*;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Instant;
-use std::{cmp::max, collections::HashMap, path::PathBuf, sync::atomic::AtomicBool};
+use std::{cmp::max, path::PathBuf, sync::atomic::AtomicBool};
 use terminal_size::{Height, Width};
 use url::Url;
 
@@ -21,7 +23,6 @@ const STREAM_TIMEOUT_CHECK_INTERVAL: usize = 100;
 const INDEX_COLUMN_NAME: &str = "index";
 
 type NuText = (String, TextStyle);
-type NuColorMap = HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>;
 
 fn get_width_param(width_param: Option<i64>) -> usize {
     if let Some(col) = width_param {
@@ -253,6 +254,7 @@ fn handle_table_command(
             metadata: None,
             trim_end_newline: false,
         }),
+        // None of these two receive a StyleComputer because handle_row_stream() can produce it by itself using engine_state and stack.
         PipelineData::Value(Value::List { vals, .. }, metadata) => handle_row_stream(
             engine_state,
             stack,
@@ -272,10 +274,17 @@ fn handle_table_command(
             metadata,
         ),
         PipelineData::Value(Value::Record { cols, vals, span }, ..) => {
+            // Create a StyleComputer to compute styles for each value in the table.
+            let style_computer = &StyleComputer::from_config(engine_state, stack);
             let result = match table_view {
-                TableView::General => {
-                    build_general_table2(cols, vals, ctrlc.clone(), config, term_width)
-                }
+                TableView::General => build_general_table2(
+                    style_computer,
+                    cols,
+                    vals,
+                    ctrlc.clone(),
+                    config,
+                    term_width,
+                ),
                 TableView::Expanded {
                     limit,
                     flatten,
@@ -288,13 +297,16 @@ fn handle_table_command(
                         span,
                         ctrlc.clone(),
                         config,
+                        style_computer,
                         term_width,
                         limit,
                         flatten,
                         sep,
                     )
                 }
-                TableView::Collapsed => build_collapsed_table(cols, vals, config, term_width),
+                TableView::Collapsed => {
+                    build_collapsed_table(style_computer, cols, vals, config, term_width)
+                }
             }?;
 
             let result = strip_output_color(result, config);
@@ -358,6 +370,7 @@ fn supported_table_modes() -> Vec<Value> {
 }
 
 fn build_collapsed_table(
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     cols: Vec<String>,
     vals: Vec<Value>,
     config: &Config,
@@ -369,9 +382,16 @@ fn build_collapsed_table(
         span: Span::new(0, 0),
     };
 
-    let color_hm = get_color_config(config);
     let theme = load_theme_from_config(config);
-    let table = nu_table::NuTable::new(value, true, term_width, config, &color_hm, &theme, false);
+    let table = nu_table::NuTable::new(
+        value,
+        true,
+        term_width,
+        config,
+        style_computer,
+        &theme,
+        false,
+    );
 
     let table = table.draw();
 
@@ -379,6 +399,7 @@ fn build_collapsed_table(
 }
 
 fn build_general_table2(
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     cols: Vec<String>,
     vals: Vec<Value>,
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
@@ -400,8 +421,7 @@ fn build_general_table2(
     }
 
     let data_len = data.len();
-    let color_hm = get_color_config(config);
-    let table_config = create_table_config(config, &color_hm, data_len, false, false, false);
+    let table_config = create_table_config(config, style_computer, data_len, false, false, false);
 
     let table = NuTable::new(data, (data_len, 2));
 
@@ -410,6 +430,7 @@ fn build_general_table2(
     Ok(table)
 }
 
+// The table produced by `table -e`
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 fn build_expanded_table(
     cols: Vec<String>,
@@ -417,12 +438,12 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
     span: Span,
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &Config,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     term_width: usize,
     expand_limit: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
 ) -> Result<Option<String>, ShellError> {
-    let color_hm = get_color_config(config);
     let theme = load_theme_from_config(config);
 
     // calculate the width of a key part + the rest of table so we know the rest of the table width available for value.
@@ -431,7 +452,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
     let key_table = NuTable::new(vec![vec![key]], (1, 2));
     let key_width = key_table
         .draw(
-            create_table_config(config, &color_hm, 1, false, false, false),
+            create_table_config(config, style_computer, 1, false, false, false),
             usize::MAX,
         )
         .map(|table| string_width(&table))
@@ -454,7 +475,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
         let is_limited = matches!(expand_limit, Some(0));
         let mut is_expanded = false;
         let value = if is_limited {
-            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, &color_hm).0
+            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, style_computer).0
         } else {
             let deep = expand_limit.map(|i| i - 1);
 
@@ -466,7 +487,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                         ctrlc.clone(),
                         config,
                         span,
-                        &color_hm,
+                        style_computer,
                         deep,
                         flatten,
                         flatten_sep,
@@ -476,14 +497,13 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                     match table {
                         Some((mut table, with_header, with_index)) => {
                             // controll width via removing table columns.
-                            let theme = load_theme_from_config(config);
                             table.truncate(remaining_width, &theme);
 
                             is_expanded = true;
 
                             let table_config = create_table_config(
                                 config,
-                                &color_hm,
+                                style_computer,
                                 table.count_rows(),
                                 with_header,
                                 with_index,
@@ -499,7 +519,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                         None => {
                             // it means that the list is empty
                             let value = Value::List { vals, span };
-                            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, &color_hm).0
+                            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, style_computer).0
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -510,6 +530,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                         span,
                         ctrlc.clone(),
                         config,
+                        style_computer,
                         remaining_width,
                         deep,
                         flatten,
@@ -525,7 +546,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                             let failed_value = value_to_styled_string(
                                 &Value::Record { cols, vals, span },
                                 config,
-                                &color_hm,
+                                style_computer,
                             );
 
                             nu_table::wrap_string(&failed_value.0, remaining_width)
@@ -533,7 +554,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                     }
                 }
                 val => {
-                    let text = value_to_styled_string(&val, config, &color_hm).0;
+                    let text = value_to_styled_string(&val, config, style_computer).0;
                     nu_table::wrap_string(&text, remaining_width)
                 }
             }
@@ -555,7 +576,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
     }
 
     let data_len = data.len();
-    let table_config = create_table_config(config, &color_hm, data_len, false, false, false);
+    let table_config = create_table_config(config, style_computer, data_len, false, false, false);
     let table = NuTable::new(data, (data_len, 2));
 
     let table_s = table.clone().draw(table_config.clone(), term_width);
@@ -700,7 +721,10 @@ fn handle_row_stream(
         stdout: Some(RawStream::new(
             Box::new(PagingTableCreator {
                 row_offset,
-                config: engine_state.get_config().clone(),
+                // These are passed in as a way to have PagingTable create StyleComputers
+                // for the values it outputs. Because engine_state is passed in, config doesn't need to.
+                engine_state: engine_state.clone(),
+                stack: stack.clone(),
                 ctrlc: ctrlc.clone(),
                 head,
                 stream,
@@ -742,18 +766,71 @@ fn make_clickable_link(
     }
 }
 
-#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+// convert_to_table() defers all its style computations so that they can be run in parallel using par_extend().
+// This structure holds the intermediate computations.
+// Currently, the other table forms don't use this.
+// Because of how table-specific this is, I don't think this can be pushed into StyleComputer itself.
+enum DeferredStyleComputation {
+    Value { value: Value },
+    Header { text: String },
+    RowIndex { text: String },
+    Empty {},
+}
+
+impl DeferredStyleComputation {
+    // This is only run inside a par_extend().
+    fn compute(&self, config: &Config, style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> NuText {
+        match self {
+            DeferredStyleComputation::Value { value } => {
+                match value {
+                    // Float precision is required here.
+                    Value::Float { val, .. } => (
+                        format!("{:.prec$}", val, prec = config.float_precision as usize),
+                        style_computer.style_primitive(value),
+                    ),
+                    _ => (
+                        value.into_abbreviated_string(config),
+                        style_computer.style_primitive(value),
+                    ),
+                }
+            }
+            DeferredStyleComputation::Header { text } => (
+                text.clone(),
+                TextStyle::with_style(
+                    Alignment::Center,
+                    style_computer
+                        .compute("header", &Value::string(text.as_str(), Span::unknown())),
+                ),
+            ),
+            DeferredStyleComputation::RowIndex { text } => (
+                text.clone(),
+                TextStyle::with_style(
+                    Alignment::Right,
+                    style_computer
+                        .compute("row_index", &Value::string(text.as_str(), Span::unknown())),
+                ),
+            ),
+            DeferredStyleComputation::Empty {} => (
+                "❎".into(),
+                TextStyle::with_style(
+                    Alignment::Right,
+                    style_computer.compute("empty", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown())),
+                ),
+            ),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 fn convert_to_table(
     row_offset: usize,
     input: &[Value],
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &Config,
     head: Span,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
 ) -> Result<Option<(NuTable, bool, bool)>, ShellError> {
     let mut headers = get_columns(input);
     let mut input = input.iter().peekable();
-    let float_precision = config.float_precision as usize;
     let with_index = match config.table_index_mode {
         TableIndexMode::Always => true,
         TableIndexMode::Never => false,
@@ -764,7 +841,9 @@ fn convert_to_table(
         return Ok(None);
     }
 
-    if !headers.is_empty() && with_index {
+    let with_header = !headers.is_empty();
+
+    if with_header && with_index {
         headers.insert(0, "#".into());
     }
 
@@ -773,26 +852,18 @@ fn convert_to_table(
     let headers: Vec<_> = headers
         .into_iter()
         .filter(|header| header != INDEX_COLUMN_NAME)
-        .map(|text| {
-            NuTable::create_cell(
-                text,
-                TextStyle {
-                    alignment: Alignment::Center,
-                    color_style: Some(color_hm["header"]),
-                },
-            )
-        })
+        .map(|text| DeferredStyleComputation::Header { text })
         .collect();
 
-    let with_header = !headers.is_empty();
     let mut count_columns = headers.len();
 
-    let mut data: Vec<Vec<_>> = if headers.is_empty() {
+    let mut data: Vec<Vec<_>> = if !with_header {
         Vec::new()
     } else {
         vec![headers]
     };
 
+    // Turn each item of each row into a DeferredStyleComputation for that item.
     for (row_num, item) in input.enumerate() {
         if nu_utils::ctrl_c::was_pressed(&ctrlc) {
             return Ok(None);
@@ -812,26 +883,36 @@ fn convert_to_table(
             }
             .unwrap_or_else(|| (row_num + row_offset).to_string());
 
-            let value = make_index_string(text, color_hm);
-            let value = NuTable::create_cell(value.0, value.1);
-
-            row.push(value);
+            row.push(DeferredStyleComputation::RowIndex { text });
         }
 
         if !with_header {
-            let text = item.into_abbreviated_string(config);
-            let text_type = item.get_type().to_string();
-            let value = make_styled_string(text, &text_type, color_hm, float_precision);
-            let value = NuTable::create_cell(value.0, value.1);
-
-            row.push(value);
+            row.push(DeferredStyleComputation::Value {
+                value: item.clone(),
+            });
         } else {
             let skip_num = usize::from(with_index);
+            // data[0] is used here because headers (the direct reference to it) has been moved.
             for header in data[0].iter().skip(skip_num) {
-                let value =
-                    create_table2_entry_basic(item, header.as_ref(), head, config, color_hm);
-                let value = NuTable::create_cell(value.0, value.1);
-                row.push(value);
+                if let DeferredStyleComputation::Header { text } = header {
+                    row.push(match item {
+                        Value::Record { .. } => {
+                            let path = PathMember::String {
+                                val: text.clone(),
+                                span: head,
+                            };
+                            let val = item.clone().follow_cell_path(&[path], false);
+
+                            match val {
+                                Ok(val) => DeferredStyleComputation::Value { value: val },
+                                Err(_) => DeferredStyleComputation::Empty {},
+                            }
+                        }
+                        _ => DeferredStyleComputation::Value {
+                            value: item.clone(),
+                        },
+                    });
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -840,8 +921,25 @@ fn convert_to_table(
         data.push(row);
     }
 
-    let count_rows = data.len();
-    let table = NuTable::new(data, (count_rows, count_columns));
+    // All the computations are parallelised here.
+    // NOTE: It's currently not possible to Ctrl-C out of this...
+    let mut cells: Vec<Vec<_>> = Vec::with_capacity(data.len());
+    data.into_par_iter()
+        .map(|row| {
+            let mut new_row = Vec::with_capacity(row.len());
+            row.into_par_iter()
+                .map(|deferred| {
+                    let pair = deferred.compute(config, style_computer);
+
+                    NuTable::create_cell(pair.0, pair.1)
+                })
+                .collect_into_vec(&mut new_row);
+            new_row
+        })
+        .collect_into_vec(&mut cells);
+
+    let count_rows = cells.len();
+    let table = NuTable::new(cells, (count_rows, count_columns));
 
     Ok(Some((table, with_header, with_index)))
 }
@@ -854,7 +952,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &Config,
     head: Span,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     deep: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
@@ -903,7 +1001,10 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
         let mut column_width = 0;
 
         if with_header {
-            data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell("#", header_style(color_hm)));
+            data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell(
+                "#",
+                header_style(style_computer, String::from("#")),
+            ));
         }
 
         for (row, item) in input.clone().into_iter().enumerate() {
@@ -920,7 +1021,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                 .then(|| lookup_index_value(item, config).unwrap_or_else(|| index.to_string()))
                 .unwrap_or_else(|| index.to_string());
 
-            let value = make_index_string(text, color_hm);
+            let value = make_index_string(text, style_computer);
 
             let width = string_width(&value.0);
             column_width = max(column_width, width);
@@ -952,7 +1053,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                 item,
                 config,
                 &ctrlc,
-                color_hm,
+                style_computer,
                 deep,
                 flatten,
                 flatten_sep,
@@ -994,7 +1095,10 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
 
         let mut column_width = string_width(&header);
 
-        data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell(&header, header_style(color_hm)));
+        data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell(
+            header.clone(),
+            header_style(style_computer, header.clone()),
+        ));
 
         for (row, item) in input.clone().into_iter().enumerate() {
             if nu_utils::ctrl_c::was_pressed(&ctrlc) {
@@ -1007,11 +1111,11 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
 
             let value = create_table2_entry(
                 item,
-                &header,
+                header.as_str(),
                 head,
                 config,
                 &ctrlc,
-                color_hm,
+                style_computer,
                 deep,
                 flatten,
                 flatten_sep,
@@ -1039,7 +1143,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                     return Ok(None);
                 }
 
-                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, color_hm);
+                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, style_computer);
                 let value = wrap_nu_text(value, available_width);
 
                 let value_width = string_width(&value.0);
@@ -1064,7 +1168,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                     return Ok(None);
                 }
 
-                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, color_hm);
+                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, style_computer);
                 let value = wrap_nu_text(value, OK_CELL_CONTENT_WIDTH);
 
                 let value = NuTable::create_cell(value.0, value.1);
@@ -1134,10 +1238,11 @@ fn lookup_index_value(item: &Value, config: &Config) -> Option<String> {
         .map(|value| value.into_string("", config))
 }
 
-fn header_style(color_hm: &NuColorMap) -> TextStyle {
+fn header_style(style_computer: &StyleComputer, header: String) -> TextStyle {
+    let style = style_computer.compute("header", &Value::string(header.as_str(), Span::unknown()));
     TextStyle {
         alignment: Alignment::Center,
-        color_style: Some(color_hm["header"]),
+        color_style: Some(style),
     }
 }
 
@@ -1147,7 +1252,7 @@ fn create_table2_entry_basic(
     header: &str,
     head: Span,
     config: &Config,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
 ) -> NuText {
     match item {
         Value::Record { .. } => {
@@ -1156,11 +1261,11 @@ fn create_table2_entry_basic(
             let val = item.clone().follow_cell_path(&[path], false);
 
             match val {
-                Ok(val) => value_to_styled_string(&val, config, color_hm),
-                Err(_) => error_sign(color_hm),
+                Ok(val) => value_to_styled_string(&val, config, style_computer),
+                Err(_) => error_sign(style_computer),
             }
         }
-        _ => value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm),
+        _ => value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer),
     }
 }
 
@@ -1171,7 +1276,7 @@ fn create_table2_entry(
     head: Span,
     config: &Config,
     ctrlc: &Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     deep: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
@@ -1188,20 +1293,20 @@ fn create_table2_entry(
                     &val,
                     config,
                     ctrlc,
-                    color_hm,
+                    style_computer,
                     deep,
                     flatten,
                     flatten_sep,
                     width,
                 ),
-                Err(_) => wrap_nu_text(error_sign(color_hm), width),
+                Err(_) => wrap_nu_text(error_sign(style_computer), width),
             }
         }
         _ => convert_to_table2_entry(
             item,
             config,
             ctrlc,
-            color_hm,
+            style_computer,
             deep,
             flatten,
             flatten_sep,
@@ -1210,8 +1315,8 @@ fn create_table2_entry(
     }
 }
 
-fn error_sign(color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>) -> (String, TextStyle) {
-    make_styled_string(String::from("❎"), "empty", color_hm, 0)
+fn error_sign(style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> (String, TextStyle) {
+    make_styled_string(style_computer, String::from("❎"), None, 0)
 }
 
 fn wrap_nu_text(mut text: NuText, width: usize) -> NuText {
@@ -1224,7 +1329,9 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
     item: &Value,
     config: &Config,
     ctrlc: &Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    // This is passed in, even though it could be retrieved from config,
+    // to save reallocation (because it's presumably being used upstream).
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     deep: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
@@ -1232,13 +1339,13 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
 ) -> NuText {
     let is_limit_reached = matches!(deep, Some(0));
     if is_limit_reached {
-        return wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width);
+        return wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width);
     }
 
     match &item {
         Value::Record { span, cols, vals } => {
             if cols.is_empty() && vals.is_empty() {
-                wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width)
+                wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width)
             } else {
                 let table = convert_to_table2(
                     0,
@@ -1246,7 +1353,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     ctrlc.clone(),
                     config,
                     *span,
-                    color_hm,
+                    style_computer,
                     deep.map(|i| i - 1),
                     flatten,
                     flatten_sep,
@@ -1257,7 +1364,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     table.and_then(|(table, with_header, with_index)| {
                         let table_config = create_table_config(
                             config,
-                            color_hm,
+                            style_computer,
                             table.count_rows(),
                             with_header,
                             with_index,
@@ -1272,7 +1379,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     (table, TextStyle::default())
                 } else {
                     // error so back down to the default
-                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width)
+                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width)
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -1283,7 +1390,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
 
             if flatten && is_simple_list {
                 wrap_nu_text(
-                    convert_value_list_to_string(vals, config, color_hm, flatten_sep),
+                    convert_value_list_to_string(vals, config, style_computer, flatten_sep),
                     width,
                 )
             } else {
@@ -1293,7 +1400,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     ctrlc.clone(),
                     config,
                     *span,
-                    color_hm,
+                    style_computer,
                     deep.map(|i| i - 1),
                     flatten,
                     flatten_sep,
@@ -1304,7 +1411,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     table.and_then(|(table, with_header, with_index)| {
                         let table_config = create_table_config(
                             config,
-                            color_hm,
+                            style_computer,
                             table.count_rows(),
                             with_header,
                             with_index,
@@ -1320,23 +1427,25 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                 } else {
                     // error so back down to the default
 
-                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width)
+                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width)
                 }
             }
         }
-        _ => wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width), // unknown type.
+        _ => wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width), // unknown type.
     }
 }
 
 fn convert_value_list_to_string(
     vals: &[Value],
     config: &Config,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    // This is passed in, even though it could be retrieved from config,
+    // to save reallocation (because it's presumably being used upstream).
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     flatten_sep: &str,
 ) -> NuText {
     let mut buf = Vec::new();
     for value in vals {
-        let (text, _) = value_to_styled_string(value, config, color_hm);
+        let (text, _) = value_to_styled_string(value, config, style_computer);
 
         buf.push(text);
     }
@@ -1344,39 +1453,58 @@ fn convert_value_list_to_string(
     (text, TextStyle::default())
 }
 
-fn value_to_styled_string(value: &Value, config: &Config, color_hm: &NuColorMap) -> NuText {
+fn value_to_styled_string(
+    value: &Value,
+    config: &Config,
+    // This is passed in, even though it could be retrieved from config,
+    // to save reallocation (because it's presumably being used upstream).
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
+) -> NuText {
     let float_precision = config.float_precision as usize;
     make_styled_string(
+        style_computer,
         value.into_abbreviated_string(config),
-        &value.get_type().to_string(),
-        color_hm,
+        Some(value),
         float_precision,
     )
 }
 
 fn make_styled_string(
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     text: String,
-    text_type: &str,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    value: Option<&Value>, // None represents table holes.
     float_precision: usize,
 ) -> NuText {
-    if text_type == "float" {
-        // set dynamic precision from config
-        let precise_number = match convert_with_precision(&text, float_precision) {
-            Ok(num) => num,
-            Err(e) => e.to_string(),
-        };
-        (precise_number, style_primitive(text_type, color_hm))
-    } else {
-        (text, style_primitive(text_type, color_hm))
+    match value {
+        Some(value) => {
+            match value {
+                Value::Float { .. } => {
+                    // set dynamic precision from config
+                    let precise_number = match convert_with_precision(&text, float_precision) {
+                        Ok(num) => num,
+                        Err(e) => e.to_string(),
+                    };
+                    (precise_number, style_computer.style_primitive(value))
+                }
+                _ => (text, style_computer.style_primitive(value)),
+            }
+        }
+        None => {
+            // Though holes are not the same as null, the closure for "empty" is passed a null anyway.
+            (
+                text,
+                TextStyle::with_style(
+                    Alignment::Center,
+                    style_computer.compute("empty", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown())),
+                ),
+            )
+        }
     }
 }
 
-fn make_index_string(text: String, color_hm: &NuColorMap) -> NuText {
-    let style = TextStyle::new()
-        .alignment(Alignment::Right)
-        .style(color_hm["row_index"]);
-    (text, style)
+fn make_index_string(text: String, style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> NuText {
+    let style = style_computer.compute("row_index", &Value::string(text.as_str(), Span::unknown()));
+    (text, TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Right, style))
 }
 
 fn convert_with_precision(val: &str, precision: usize) -> Result<String, ShellError> {
@@ -1399,8 +1527,9 @@ fn convert_with_precision(val: &str, precision: usize) -> Result<String, ShellEr
 struct PagingTableCreator {
     head: Span,
     stream: ListStream,
+    engine_state: EngineState,
+    stack: Stack,
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
-    config: Config,
     row_offset: usize,
     width_param: Option<i64>,
     view: TableView,
@@ -1408,7 +1537,7 @@ struct PagingTableCreator {
 
 impl PagingTableCreator {
     fn build_extended(
-        &self,
+        &mut self,
         batch: &[Value],
         limit: Option<usize>,
         flatten: bool,
@@ -1418,17 +1547,18 @@ impl PagingTableCreator {
             return Ok(None);
         }
 
+        let config = self.engine_state.get_config();
+        let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(&self.engine_state, &self.stack);
         let term_width = get_width_param(self.width_param);
-        let color_hm = get_color_config(&self.config);
-        let theme = load_theme_from_config(&self.config);
+        let theme = load_theme_from_config(config);
 
         let table = convert_to_table2(
             self.row_offset,
             batch.iter(),
             self.ctrlc.clone(),
-            &self.config,
+            config,
             self.head,
-            &color_hm,
+            &style_computer,
             limit,
             flatten,
             flatten_separator.as_deref().unwrap_or(" "),
@@ -1443,8 +1573,8 @@ impl PagingTableCreator {
         table.truncate(term_width, &theme);
 
         let table_config = create_table_config(
-            &self.config,
-            &color_hm,
+            config,
+            &style_computer,
             table.count_rows(),
             with_header,
             with_index,
@@ -1476,16 +1606,17 @@ impl PagingTableCreator {
         Ok(table)
     }
 
-    fn build_collapsed(&self, batch: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Option<String>, ShellError> {
+    fn build_collapsed(&mut self, batch: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Option<String>, ShellError> {
         if batch.is_empty() {
             return Ok(None);
         }
 
-        let color_hm = get_color_config(&self.config);
-        let theme = load_theme_from_config(&self.config);
+        let config = self.engine_state.get_config();
+        let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(&self.engine_state, &self.stack);
+        let theme = load_theme_from_config(config);
         let term_width = get_width_param(self.width_param);
-        let need_footer = matches!(self.config.footer_mode, FooterMode::RowCount(limit) if batch.len() as u64 > limit)
-            || matches!(self.config.footer_mode, FooterMode::Always);
+        let need_footer = matches!(config.footer_mode, FooterMode::RowCount(limit) if batch.len() as u64 > limit)
+            || matches!(config.footer_mode, FooterMode::Always);
         let value = Value::List {
             vals: batch,
             span: Span::new(0, 0),
@@ -1495,8 +1626,8 @@ impl PagingTableCreator {
             value,
             true,
             term_width,
-            &self.config,
-            &color_hm,
+            config,
+            &style_computer,
             &theme,
             need_footer,
         );
@@ -1504,17 +1635,17 @@ impl PagingTableCreator {
         Ok(table.draw())
     }
 
-    fn build_general(&self, batch: &[Value]) -> Result<Option<String>, ShellError> {
+    fn build_general(&mut self, batch: &[Value]) -> Result<Option<String>, ShellError> {
         let term_width = get_width_param(self.width_param);
-        let color_hm = get_color_config(&self.config);
-
+        let config = &self.engine_state.get_config();
+        let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(&self.engine_state, &self.stack);
         let table = convert_to_table(
             self.row_offset,
             batch,
             self.ctrlc.clone(),
-            &self.config,
+            config,
             self.head,
-            &color_hm,
+            &style_computer,
         )?;
 
         let (table, with_header, with_index) = match table {
@@ -1523,8 +1654,8 @@ impl PagingTableCreator {
         };
 
         let table_config = create_table_config(
-            &self.config,
-            &color_hm,
+            config,
+            &style_computer,
             table.count_rows(),
             with_header,
             with_index,
@@ -1584,8 +1715,8 @@ impl Iterator for PagingTableCreator {
 
         match table {
             Ok(Some(table)) => {
-                let table =
-                    strip_output_color(Some(table), &self.config).expect("must never happen");
+                let table = strip_output_color(Some(table), self.engine_state.get_config())
+                    .expect("must never happen");
 
                 let mut bytes = table.as_bytes().to_vec();
                 bytes.push(b'\n'); // nu-table tables don't come with a newline on the end
@@ -1686,7 +1817,7 @@ fn strip_output_color(output: Option<String>, config: &Config) -> Option<String>
 
 fn create_table_config(
     config: &Config,
-    color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     count_records: usize,
     with_header: bool,
     with_index: bool,
@@ -1697,10 +1828,7 @@ fn create_table_config(
 
     let mut table_cfg = TableConfig::new(theme, with_header, with_index, append_footer);
 
-    let sep_color = lookup_separator_color(color_hm);
-    if let Some(color) = sep_color {
-        table_cfg = table_cfg.splitline_style(color);
-    }
+    table_cfg = table_cfg.splitline_style(lookup_separator_color(style_computer));
 
     if expand {
         table_cfg = table_cfg.expand();
@@ -1709,10 +1837,8 @@ fn create_table_config(
     table_cfg.trim(config.trim_strategy.clone())
 }
 
-fn lookup_separator_color(
-    color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
-) -> Option<nu_ansi_term::Style> {
-    color_hm.get("separator").cloned()
+fn lookup_separator_color(style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> nu_ansi_term::Style {
+    style_computer.compute("separator", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown()))
 }
 
 fn with_footer(config: &Config, with_header: bool, count_records: usize) -> bool {
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/config_show.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/config_show.rs
index e95a6c938..97b744297 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/config_show.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/config_show.rs
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ impl ConfigView {
         match self.format {
             ConfigFormat::Table => {
                 let value = map_into_value(config.config.clone());
-                try_build_table(None, config.nu_config, config.color_hm, value)
+                try_build_table(None, config.nu_config, config.style_computer, value)
             }
             ConfigFormat::Nu => nu_json::to_string(&config.config).unwrap_or_default(),
         }
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/expand.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/expand.rs
index 8827c35e0..6a50fdc56 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/expand.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/expand.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use std::{io::Result, vec};
 
-use nu_color_config::get_color_config;
+use nu_color_config::StyleComputer;
 use nu_protocol::{
     engine::{EngineState, Stack},
     Value,
@@ -71,18 +71,18 @@ impl ViewCommand for ExpandCmd {
     fn spawn(
         &mut self,
         engine_state: &EngineState,
-        _stack: &mut Stack,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
         value: Option<Value>,
     ) -> Result<Self::View> {
         let value = value
-            .map(|v| convert_value_to_string(v, engine_state))
+            .map(|v| convert_value_to_string(v, engine_state, stack))
             .unwrap_or_default();
 
         Ok(Preview::new(&value))
     }
 }
 
-fn convert_value_to_string(value: Value, engine_state: &EngineState) -> String {
+fn convert_value_to_string(value: Value, engine_state: &EngineState, stack: &mut Stack) -> String {
     let (cols, vals) = collect_input(value.clone());
 
     let has_no_head = cols.is_empty() || (cols.len() == 1 && cols[0].is_empty());
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ fn convert_value_to_string(value: Value, engine_state: &EngineState) -> String {
     } else {
         let ctrlc = engine_state.ctrlc.clone();
         let config = engine_state.get_config();
-        let color_hm = get_color_config(config);
+        let style_computer = StyleComputer::from_config(engine_state, stack);
 
-        nu_common::try_build_table(ctrlc, config, &color_hm, value)
+        nu_common::try_build_table(ctrlc, config, &style_computer, value)
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/preview.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/preview.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7be8215a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/commands/preview.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+use nu_protocol::{
+    engine::{EngineState, Stack},
+    Value,
+};
+use std::io::Result;
+
+use crate::{
+    nu_common::{self, collect_input},
+    views::Preview,
+};
+
+use super::{HelpManual, ViewCommand};
+
+#[derive(Default, Clone)]
+pub struct PreviewCmd;
+
+impl PreviewCmd {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self
+    }
+}
+
+impl PreviewCmd {
+    pub const NAME: &'static str = "preview";
+}
+
+impl ViewCommand for PreviewCmd {
+    type View = Preview;
+
+    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
+        Self::NAME
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &'static str {
+        ""
+    }
+
+    fn help(&self) -> Option<HelpManual> {
+        Some(HelpManual {
+            name: "preview",
+            description:
+                "View the currently selected cell's data using the `table` Nushell command",
+            arguments: vec![],
+            examples: vec![],
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn parse(&mut self, _: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn spawn(
+        &mut self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        value: Option<Value>,
+    ) -> Result<Self::View> {
+        let value = match value {
+            Some(value) => {
+                let (cols, vals) = collect_input(value.clone());
+
+                let has_no_head = cols.is_empty() || (cols.len() == 1 && cols[0].is_empty());
+                let has_single_value = vals.len() == 1 && vals[0].len() == 1;
+                if !has_no_head && has_single_value {
+                    let config = engine_state.get_config();
+                    vals[0][0].into_abbreviated_string(config)
+                } else {
+                    let ctrlc = engine_state.ctrlc.clone();
+                    let config = engine_state.get_config();
+
+                    nu_common::try_build_table(engine_state, stack, ctrlc, config, value)
+                }
+            }
+            None => String::new(),
+        };
+
+        Ok(Preview::new(&value))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/mod.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/mod.rs
index b88041716..bdc382dc9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/mod.rs
@@ -3,20 +3,16 @@ mod string;
 mod table;
 mod value;
 
-use std::{
-    collections::HashMap,
-    sync::{atomic::AtomicBool, Arc},
-};
+use std::sync::{atomic::AtomicBool, Arc};
 
+use nu_color_config::TextStyle;
 use nu_protocol::Value;
-use nu_table::TextStyle;
 
 pub use nu_ansi_term::{Color as NuColor, Style as NuStyle};
 pub use nu_protocol::{Config as NuConfig, Span as NuSpan};
 
 pub type NuText = (String, TextStyle);
 pub type CtrlC = Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>;
-pub type NuStyleTable = HashMap<String, NuStyle>;
 
 pub use command::{is_ignored_command, run_command_with_value, run_nu_command};
 pub use string::truncate_str;
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/table.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/table.rs
index 3d3f06b80..56cb1dc50 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/table.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/table.rs
@@ -1,33 +1,31 @@
-use nu_color_config::{get_color_config, style_primitive};
+use nu_color_config::{Alignment, StyleComputer, TextStyle};
 use nu_engine::column::get_columns;
 use nu_protocol::FooterMode;
 use nu_protocol::{ast::PathMember, Config, ShellError, Span, TableIndexMode, Value};
-use nu_table::{string_width, Alignment, Table as NuTable, TableConfig, TableTheme, TextStyle};
+use nu_table::{string_width, Table as NuTable, TableConfig, TableTheme};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::{
     cmp::max,
-    collections::HashMap,
     sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering},
 };
 
 const INDEX_COLUMN_NAME: &str = "index";
 
 type NuText = (String, TextStyle);
-type NuColorMap = HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>;
-use crate::nu_common::{NuConfig, NuStyleTable};
+use crate::nu_common::NuConfig;
 
 pub fn try_build_table(
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &NuConfig,
-    color_hm: &NuStyleTable,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     value: Value,
 ) -> String {
     match value {
-        Value::List { vals, span } => try_build_list(vals, &ctrlc, config, span, color_hm),
+        Value::List { vals, span } => try_build_list(vals, &ctrlc, config, span, style_computer),
         Value::Record { cols, vals, span } => {
-            try_build_map(cols, vals, span, ctrlc, config, color_hm)
+            try_build_map(cols, vals, span, style_computer, ctrlc, config)
         }
-        val => value_to_styled_string(&val, config, color_hm).0,
+        val => value_to_styled_string(&val, config, style_computer).0,
     }
 }
 
@@ -35,9 +33,9 @@ fn try_build_map(
     cols: Vec<String>,
     vals: Vec<Value>,
     span: Span,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &NuConfig,
-    color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
 ) -> String {
     let result = build_expanded_table(
         cols.clone(),
@@ -45,6 +43,7 @@ fn try_build_map(
         span,
         ctrlc,
         config,
+        style_computer,
         usize::MAX,
         None,
         false,
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ fn try_build_map(
     match result {
         Ok(Some(result)) => result,
         Ok(None) | Err(_) => {
-            value_to_styled_string(&Value::Record { cols, vals, span }, config, color_hm).0
+            value_to_styled_string(&Value::Record { cols, vals, span }, config, style_computer).0
         }
     }
 }
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ fn try_build_list(
     ctrlc: &Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &NuConfig,
     span: Span,
-    color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
 ) -> String {
     let table = convert_to_table2(
         0,
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ fn try_build_list(
         ctrlc.clone(),
         config,
         span,
-        color_hm,
+        style_computer,
         None,
         false,
         "",
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ fn try_build_list(
         Ok(Some((table, with_header, with_index))) => {
             let table_config = create_table_config(
                 config,
-                color_hm,
+                style_computer,
                 table.count_rows(),
                 with_header,
                 with_index,
@@ -92,12 +91,14 @@ fn try_build_list(
 
             match val {
                 Some(result) => result,
-                None => value_to_styled_string(&Value::List { vals, span }, config, color_hm).0,
+                None => {
+                    value_to_styled_string(&Value::List { vals, span }, config, style_computer).0
+                }
             }
         }
         Ok(None) | Err(_) => {
             // it means that the list is empty
-            value_to_styled_string(&Value::List { vals, span }, config, color_hm).0
+            value_to_styled_string(&Value::List { vals, span }, config, style_computer).0
         }
     }
 }
@@ -109,12 +110,12 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
     span: Span,
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &Config,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     term_width: usize,
     expand_limit: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
 ) -> Result<Option<String>, ShellError> {
-    let color_hm = get_color_config(config);
     let theme = load_theme_from_config(config);
 
     // calculate the width of a key part + the rest of table so we know the rest of the table width available for value.
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
     let key_table = NuTable::new(vec![vec![key]], (1, 2));
     let key_width = key_table
         .draw(
-            create_table_config(config, &color_hm, 1, false, false, false),
+            create_table_config(config, style_computer, 1, false, false, false),
             usize::MAX,
         )
         .map(|table| string_width(&table))
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
         let is_limited = matches!(expand_limit, Some(0));
         let mut is_expanded = false;
         let value = if is_limited {
-            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, &color_hm).0
+            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, style_computer).0
         } else {
             let deep = expand_limit.map(|i| i - 1);
 
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                         ctrlc.clone(),
                         config,
                         span,
-                        &color_hm,
+                        style_computer,
                         deep,
                         flatten,
                         flatten_sep,
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
 
                             let table_config = create_table_config(
                                 config,
-                                &color_hm,
+                                style_computer,
                                 table.count_rows(),
                                 with_header,
                                 with_index,
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                         None => {
                             // it means that the list is empty
                             let value = Value::List { vals, span };
-                            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, &color_hm).0
+                            value_to_styled_string(&value, config, style_computer).0
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                         span,
                         ctrlc.clone(),
                         config,
+                        style_computer,
                         remaining_width,
                         deep,
                         flatten,
@@ -220,7 +222,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                             let failed_value = value_to_styled_string(
                                 &Value::Record { cols, vals, span },
                                 config,
-                                &color_hm,
+                                style_computer,
                             );
 
                             nu_table::wrap_string(&failed_value.0, remaining_width)
@@ -228,7 +230,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
                     }
                 }
                 val => {
-                    let text = value_to_styled_string(&val, config, &color_hm).0;
+                    let text = value_to_styled_string(&val, config, style_computer).0;
                     nu_table::wrap_string(&text, remaining_width)
                 }
             }
@@ -249,7 +251,7 @@ fn build_expanded_table(
         data.push(row);
     }
 
-    let table_config = create_table_config(config, &color_hm, data.len(), false, false, false);
+    let table_config = create_table_config(config, style_computer, data.len(), false, false, false);
 
     let data_len = data.len();
     let table = NuTable::new(data, (data_len, 2));
@@ -287,7 +289,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
     ctrlc: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
     config: &Config,
     head: Span,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     deep: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
@@ -336,7 +338,10 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
         let mut column_width = 0;
 
         if with_header {
-            data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell("#", header_style(color_hm)));
+            data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell(
+                "#",
+                header_style(style_computer, String::from("#")),
+            ));
         }
 
         for (row, item) in input.clone().into_iter().enumerate() {
@@ -355,7 +360,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                 .then(|| lookup_index_value(item, config).unwrap_or_else(|| index.to_string()))
                 .unwrap_or_else(|| index.to_string());
 
-            let value = make_index_string(text, color_hm);
+            let value = make_index_string(text, style_computer);
 
             let width = string_width(&value.0);
             column_width = max(column_width, width);
@@ -389,7 +394,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                 item,
                 config,
                 &ctrlc,
-                color_hm,
+                style_computer,
                 deep,
                 flatten,
                 flatten_sep,
@@ -431,7 +436,10 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
 
         let mut column_width = string_width(&header);
 
-        data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell(&header, header_style(color_hm)));
+        data[0].push(NuTable::create_cell(
+            &header,
+            header_style(style_computer, header.clone()),
+        ));
 
         for (row, item) in input.clone().into_iter().enumerate() {
             if let Some(ctrlc) = &ctrlc {
@@ -450,7 +458,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                 head,
                 config,
                 &ctrlc,
-                color_hm,
+                style_computer,
                 deep,
                 flatten,
                 flatten_sep,
@@ -480,7 +488,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                     }
                 }
 
-                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, color_hm);
+                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, style_computer);
                 let value = wrap_nu_text(value, available_width);
 
                 let value_width = string_width(&value.0);
@@ -507,7 +515,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2<'a>(
                     }
                 }
 
-                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, color_hm);
+                let value = create_table2_entry_basic(item, &header, head, config, style_computer);
                 let value = wrap_nu_text(value, OK_CELL_CONTENT_WIDTH);
 
                 let value = NuTable::create_cell(value.0, value.1);
@@ -577,10 +585,11 @@ fn lookup_index_value(item: &Value, config: &Config) -> Option<String> {
         .map(|value| value.into_string("", config))
 }
 
-fn header_style(color_hm: &NuColorMap) -> TextStyle {
+fn header_style(style_computer: &StyleComputer, header: String) -> TextStyle {
+    let style = style_computer.compute("header", &Value::string(header.as_str(), Span::unknown()));
     TextStyle {
         alignment: Alignment::Center,
-        color_style: Some(color_hm["header"]),
+        color_style: Some(style),
     }
 }
 
@@ -590,7 +599,7 @@ fn create_table2_entry_basic(
     header: &str,
     head: Span,
     config: &Config,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
 ) -> NuText {
     match item {
         Value::Record { .. } => {
@@ -599,11 +608,11 @@ fn create_table2_entry_basic(
             let val = item.clone().follow_cell_path(&[path], false);
 
             match val {
-                Ok(val) => value_to_styled_string(&val, config, color_hm),
-                Err(_) => error_sign(color_hm),
+                Ok(val) => value_to_styled_string(&val, config, style_computer),
+                Err(_) => error_sign(style_computer),
             }
         }
-        _ => value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm),
+        _ => value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer),
     }
 }
 
@@ -614,7 +623,7 @@ fn create_table2_entry(
     head: Span,
     config: &Config,
     ctrlc: &Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     deep: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
@@ -631,20 +640,20 @@ fn create_table2_entry(
                     &val,
                     config,
                     ctrlc,
-                    color_hm,
+                    style_computer,
                     deep,
                     flatten,
                     flatten_sep,
                     width,
                 ),
-                Err(_) => wrap_nu_text(error_sign(color_hm), width),
+                Err(_) => wrap_nu_text(error_sign(style_computer), width),
             }
         }
         _ => convert_to_table2_entry(
             item,
             config,
             ctrlc,
-            color_hm,
+            style_computer,
             deep,
             flatten,
             flatten_sep,
@@ -653,8 +662,8 @@ fn create_table2_entry(
     }
 }
 
-fn error_sign(color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>) -> (String, TextStyle) {
-    make_styled_string(String::from("❎"), "empty", color_hm, 0)
+fn error_sign(style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> (String, TextStyle) {
+    make_styled_string(style_computer, String::from("❎"), None, 0)
 }
 
 fn wrap_nu_text(mut text: NuText, width: usize) -> NuText {
@@ -667,7 +676,9 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
     item: &Value,
     config: &Config,
     ctrlc: &Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    // This is passed in, even though it could be retrieved from config,
+    // to save reallocation (because it's presumably being used upstream).
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     deep: Option<usize>,
     flatten: bool,
     flatten_sep: &str,
@@ -675,13 +686,13 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
 ) -> NuText {
     let is_limit_reached = matches!(deep, Some(0));
     if is_limit_reached {
-        return wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width);
+        return wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width);
     }
 
     match &item {
         Value::Record { span, cols, vals } => {
             if cols.is_empty() && vals.is_empty() {
-                wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width)
+                wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width)
             } else {
                 let table = convert_to_table2(
                     0,
@@ -689,7 +700,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     ctrlc.clone(),
                     config,
                     *span,
-                    color_hm,
+                    style_computer,
                     deep.map(|i| i - 1),
                     flatten,
                     flatten_sep,
@@ -700,7 +711,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     table.and_then(|(table, with_header, with_index)| {
                         let table_config = create_table_config(
                             config,
-                            color_hm,
+                            style_computer,
                             table.count_rows(),
                             with_header,
                             with_index,
@@ -715,7 +726,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     (table, TextStyle::default())
                 } else {
                     // error so back down to the default
-                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width)
+                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width)
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -726,7 +737,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
 
             if flatten && is_simple_list {
                 wrap_nu_text(
-                    convert_value_list_to_string(vals, config, color_hm, flatten_sep),
+                    convert_value_list_to_string(vals, config, style_computer, flatten_sep),
                     width,
                 )
             } else {
@@ -736,7 +747,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     ctrlc.clone(),
                     config,
                     *span,
-                    color_hm,
+                    style_computer,
                     deep.map(|i| i - 1),
                     flatten,
                     flatten_sep,
@@ -747,7 +758,7 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                     table.and_then(|(table, with_header, with_index)| {
                         let table_config = create_table_config(
                             config,
-                            color_hm,
+                            style_computer,
                             table.count_rows(),
                             with_header,
                             with_index,
@@ -763,23 +774,25 @@ fn convert_to_table2_entry(
                 } else {
                     // error so back down to the default
 
-                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width)
+                    wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width)
                 }
             }
         }
-        _ => wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, color_hm), width), // unknown type.
+        _ => wrap_nu_text(value_to_styled_string(item, config, style_computer), width), // unknown type.
     }
 }
 
 fn convert_value_list_to_string(
     vals: &[Value],
     config: &Config,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    // This is passed in, even though it could be retrieved from config,
+    // to save reallocation (because it's presumably being used upstream).
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     flatten_sep: &str,
 ) -> NuText {
     let mut buf = Vec::new();
     for value in vals {
-        let (text, _) = value_to_styled_string(value, config, color_hm);
+        let (text, _) = value_to_styled_string(value, config, style_computer);
 
         buf.push(text);
     }
@@ -787,39 +800,58 @@ fn convert_value_list_to_string(
     (text, TextStyle::default())
 }
 
-fn value_to_styled_string(value: &Value, config: &Config, color_hm: &NuColorMap) -> NuText {
+fn value_to_styled_string(
+    value: &Value,
+    config: &Config,
+    // This is passed in, even though it could be retrieved from config,
+    // to save reallocation (because it's presumably being used upstream).
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
+) -> NuText {
     let float_precision = config.float_precision as usize;
     make_styled_string(
+        style_computer,
         value.into_abbreviated_string(config),
-        &value.get_type().to_string(),
-        color_hm,
+        Some(value),
         float_precision,
     )
 }
 
 fn make_styled_string(
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     text: String,
-    text_type: &str,
-    color_hm: &NuColorMap,
+    value: Option<&Value>, // None represents table holes.
     float_precision: usize,
 ) -> NuText {
-    if text_type == "float" {
-        // set dynamic precision from config
-        let precise_number = match convert_with_precision(&text, float_precision) {
-            Ok(num) => num,
-            Err(e) => e.to_string(),
-        };
-        (precise_number, style_primitive(text_type, color_hm))
-    } else {
-        (text, style_primitive(text_type, color_hm))
+    match value {
+        Some(value) => {
+            match value {
+                Value::Float { .. } => {
+                    // set dynamic precision from config
+                    let precise_number = match convert_with_precision(&text, float_precision) {
+                        Ok(num) => num,
+                        Err(e) => e.to_string(),
+                    };
+                    (precise_number, style_computer.style_primitive(value))
+                }
+                _ => (text, style_computer.style_primitive(value)),
+            }
+        }
+        None => {
+            // Though holes are not the same as null, the closure for "empty" is passed a null anyway.
+            (
+                text,
+                TextStyle::with_style(
+                    Alignment::Center,
+                    style_computer.compute("empty", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown())),
+                ),
+            )
+        }
     }
 }
 
-fn make_index_string(text: String, color_hm: &NuColorMap) -> NuText {
-    let style = TextStyle::new()
-        .alignment(Alignment::Right)
-        .style(color_hm["row_index"]);
-    (text, style)
+fn make_index_string(text: String, style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> NuText {
+    let style = style_computer.compute("row_index", &Value::string(text.as_str(), Span::unknown()));
+    (text, TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Right, style))
 }
 
 fn convert_with_precision(val: &str, precision: usize) -> Result<String, ShellError> {
@@ -857,7 +889,7 @@ fn load_theme_from_config(config: &Config) -> TableTheme {
 
 fn create_table_config(
     config: &Config,
-    color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     count_records: usize,
     with_header: bool,
     with_index: bool,
@@ -868,10 +900,7 @@ fn create_table_config(
 
     let mut table_cfg = TableConfig::new(theme, with_header, with_index, append_footer);
 
-    let sep_color = lookup_separator_color(color_hm);
-    if let Some(color) = sep_color {
-        table_cfg = table_cfg.splitline_style(color);
-    }
+    table_cfg = table_cfg.splitline_style(lookup_separator_color(style_computer));
 
     if expand {
         table_cfg = table_cfg.expand();
@@ -880,10 +909,8 @@ fn create_table_config(
     table_cfg.trim(config.trim_strategy.clone())
 }
 
-fn lookup_separator_color(
-    color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
-) -> Option<nu_ansi_term::Style> {
-    color_hm.get("separator").cloned()
+fn lookup_separator_color(style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> nu_ansi_term::Style {
+    style_computer.compute("separator", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown()))
 }
 
 fn with_footer(config: &Config, with_header: bool, count_records: usize) -> bool {
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/pager/mod.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/pager/mod.rs
index 7fc564fb6..1f7f08dcc 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/pager/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/pager/mod.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use crossterm::{
         LeaveAlternateScreen,
     },
 };
-use nu_color_config::lookup_ansi_color_style;
+use nu_color_config::{lookup_ansi_color_style, StyleComputer};
 use nu_protocol::{
     engine::{EngineState, Stack},
     Value,
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ use nu_protocol::{
 use tui::{backend::CrosstermBackend, layout::Rect, widgets::Block};
 
 use crate::{
-    nu_common::{CtrlC, NuColor, NuConfig, NuSpan, NuStyle, NuStyleTable},
+    nu_common::{CtrlC, NuColor, NuConfig, NuSpan, NuStyle},
     registry::{Command, CommandRegistry},
     util::map_into_value,
     views::{util::nu_style_to_tui, ViewConfig},
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ impl<'a> Pager<'a> {
         if let Some(page) = &mut view {
             page.view.setup(ViewConfig::new(
                 self.config.nu_config,
-                self.config.color_hm,
+                self.config.style_computer,
                 &self.config.config,
             ))
         }
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ pub enum Transition {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct PagerConfig<'a> {
     pub nu_config: &'a NuConfig,
-    pub color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable,
+    pub style_computer: &'a StyleComputer<'a>,
     pub config: ConfigMap,
     pub style: StyleConfig,
     pub peek_value: bool,
@@ -170,10 +170,14 @@ pub struct PagerConfig<'a> {
 }
 
 impl<'a> PagerConfig<'a> {
-    pub fn new(nu_config: &'a NuConfig, color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable, config: ConfigMap) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(
+        nu_config: &'a NuConfig,
+        style_computer: &'a StyleComputer,
+        config: ConfigMap,
+    ) -> Self {
         Self {
             nu_config,
-            color_hm,
+            style_computer,
             config,
             peek_value: false,
             exit_esc: false,
@@ -261,7 +265,7 @@ fn render_ui(
                 if let Some(page) = &mut view {
                     let cfg = ViewConfig::new(
                         pager.config.nu_config,
-                        pager.config.color_hm,
+                        pager.config.style_computer,
                         &pager.config.config,
                     );
 
@@ -416,7 +420,7 @@ fn run_command(
                             if let Some(page) = view.as_mut() {
                                 page.view.setup(ViewConfig::new(
                                     pager.config.nu_config,
-                                    pager.config.color_hm,
+                                    pager.config.style_computer,
                                     &pager.config.config,
                                 ));
                             }
@@ -424,7 +428,7 @@ fn run_command(
                             for page in view_stack {
                                 page.view.setup(ViewConfig::new(
                                     pager.config.nu_config,
-                                    pager.config.color_hm,
+                                    pager.config.style_computer,
                                     &pager.config.config,
                                 ));
                             }
@@ -452,7 +456,7 @@ fn run_command(
 
                     new_view.setup(ViewConfig::new(
                         pager.config.nu_config,
-                        pager.config.color_hm,
+                        pager.config.style_computer,
                         &pager.config.config,
                     ));
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/information.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/information.rs
index e7c1bbb1e..014c55690 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/information.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/information.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crossterm::event::KeyEvent;
+use nu_color_config::TextStyle;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{EngineState, Stack};
-use nu_table::TextStyle;
 use tui::{layout::Rect, widgets::Paragraph};
 
 use crate::{
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/mod.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/mod.rs
index 381a392e9..b87d24378 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/mod.rs
@@ -7,16 +7,14 @@ mod record;
 pub mod util;
 
 use crossterm::event::KeyEvent;
+use nu_color_config::StyleComputer;
 use nu_protocol::{
     engine::{EngineState, Stack},
     Value,
 };
 use tui::layout::Rect;
 
-use crate::{
-    nu_common::{NuConfig, NuStyleTable},
-    pager::ConfigMap,
-};
+use crate::{nu_common::NuConfig, pager::ConfigMap};
 
 use super::{
     nu_common::NuText,
@@ -61,15 +59,19 @@ impl ElementInfo {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
 pub struct ViewConfig<'a> {
     pub nu_config: &'a NuConfig,
-    pub color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable,
+    pub style_computer: &'a StyleComputer<'a>,
     pub config: &'a ConfigMap,
 }
 
 impl<'a> ViewConfig<'a> {
-    pub fn new(nu_config: &'a NuConfig, color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable, config: &'a ConfigMap) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(
+        nu_config: &'a NuConfig,
+        style_computer: &'a StyleComputer<'a>,
+        config: &'a ConfigMap,
+    ) -> Self {
         Self {
             nu_config,
-            color_hm,
+            style_computer,
             config,
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/preview.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/preview.rs
index 342a04749..cf0f76350 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/preview.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/preview.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 use std::cmp::max;
 
 use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent};
+use nu_color_config::TextStyle;
 use nu_protocol::{
     engine::{EngineState, Stack},
     Value,
 };
-use nu_table::TextStyle;
 use tui::layout::Rect;
 
 use crate::{
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/mod.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/mod.rs
index 6b87f6706..c552b1bc9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/mod.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ mod tablew;
 use std::{borrow::Cow, collections::HashMap};
 
 use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent};
-use nu_color_config::get_color_map;
+use nu_color_config::{get_color_map, StyleComputer};
 use nu_protocol::{
     engine::{EngineState, Stack},
     Value,
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use nu_protocol::{
 use tui::{layout::Rect, widgets::Block};
 
 use crate::{
-    nu_common::{collect_input, NuConfig, NuSpan, NuStyle, NuStyleTable, NuText},
+    nu_common::{collect_input, NuConfig, NuSpan, NuStyle, NuText},
     pager::{
         report::{Report, Severity},
         ConfigMap, Frame, Transition, ViewInfo,
@@ -208,16 +208,16 @@ impl<'a> RecordView<'a> {
 
     fn create_tablew(&'a self, cfg: ViewConfig<'a>) -> TableW<'a> {
         let layer = self.get_layer_last();
-        let data = convert_records_to_string(&layer.records, cfg.nu_config, cfg.color_hm);
+        let data = convert_records_to_string(&layer.records, cfg.nu_config, cfg.style_computer);
 
         let headers = layer.columns.as_ref();
-        let color_hm = cfg.color_hm;
+        let style_computer = cfg.style_computer;
         let (row, column) = self.get_current_offset();
 
         TableW::new(
             headers,
             data,
-            color_hm,
+            style_computer,
             row,
             column,
             self.theme.table,
@@ -301,10 +301,15 @@ impl View for RecordView<'_> {
     }
 
     fn collect_data(&self) -> Vec<NuText> {
+        // Create a "dummy" style_computer.
+        let dummy_engine_state = EngineState::new();
+        let dummy_stack = Stack::new();
+        let style_computer = StyleComputer::new(&dummy_engine_state, &dummy_stack, HashMap::new());
+
         let data = convert_records_to_string(
             &self.get_layer_last().records,
             &NuConfig::default(),
-            &HashMap::default(),
+            &style_computer,
         );
 
         data.iter().flatten().cloned().collect()
@@ -595,7 +600,7 @@ fn state_reverse_data(state: &mut RecordView<'_>, page_size: usize) {
 fn convert_records_to_string(
     records: &[Vec<Value>],
     cfg: &NuConfig,
-    color_hm: &NuStyleTable,
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
 ) -> Vec<Vec<NuText>> {
     records
         .iter()
@@ -603,10 +608,9 @@ fn convert_records_to_string(
             row.iter()
                 .map(|value| {
                     let text = value.clone().into_abbreviated_string(cfg);
-                    let tp = value.get_type().to_string();
                     let float_precision = cfg.float_precision as usize;
 
-                    make_styled_string(text, &tp, 0, false, color_hm, float_precision)
+                    make_styled_string(style_computer, text, Some(value), float_precision)
                 })
                 .collect::<Vec<_>>()
         })
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/tablew.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/tablew.rs
index f3e1afd92..b44f84e8d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/tablew.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/record/tablew.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@ use std::{
     cmp::{max, Ordering},
 };
 
-use nu_table::{string_width, Alignment, TextStyle};
+use nu_color_config::{Alignment, StyleComputer, TextStyle};
+use nu_protocol::Value;
+use nu_table::string_width;
 use tui::{
     buffer::Buffer,
     layout::Rect,
@@ -12,7 +14,7 @@ use tui::{
 };
 
 use crate::{
-    nu_common::{truncate_str, NuStyle, NuStyleTable, NuText},
+    nu_common::{truncate_str, NuStyle, NuText},
     views::util::{nu_style_to_tui, text_style_to_tui_style},
 };
 
@@ -26,7 +28,7 @@ pub struct TableW<'a> {
     index_column: usize,
     style: TableStyle,
     head_position: Orientation,
-    color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable,
+    style_computer: &'a StyleComputer<'a>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ impl<'a> TableW<'a> {
     pub fn new(
         columns: impl Into<Cow<'a, [String]>>,
         data: impl Into<Cow<'a, [Vec<NuText>]>>,
-        color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable,
+        style_computer: &'a StyleComputer<'a>,
         index_row: usize,
         index_column: usize,
         style: TableStyle,
@@ -67,11 +69,11 @@ impl<'a> TableW<'a> {
         Self {
             columns: columns.into(),
             data: data.into(),
+            style_computer,
             index_row,
             index_column,
             style,
             head_position,
-            color_hm,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ impl<'a> TableW<'a> {
             width += render_index(
                 buf,
                 area,
-                self.color_hm,
+                self.style_computer,
                 self.index_row,
                 padding_index_l,
                 padding_index_r,
@@ -246,7 +248,7 @@ impl<'a> TableW<'a> {
             }
 
             if show_head {
-                let mut header = [head_row_text(&head, self.color_hm)];
+                let mut header = [head_row_text(&head, self.style_computer)];
                 if head_width > use_space as usize {
                     truncate_str(&mut header[0].0, use_space as usize)
                 }
@@ -330,7 +332,7 @@ impl<'a> TableW<'a> {
             left_w += render_index(
                 buf,
                 area,
-                self.color_hm,
+                self.style_computer,
                 self.index_row,
                 padding_index_l,
                 padding_index_r,
@@ -358,7 +360,7 @@ impl<'a> TableW<'a> {
 
             let columns = columns
                 .iter()
-                .map(|s| head_row_text(s, self.color_hm))
+                .map(|s| head_row_text(s, self.style_computer))
                 .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
             if is_head_left {
@@ -540,13 +542,16 @@ fn check_column_width(
 }
 
 struct IndexColumn<'a> {
-    color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable,
+    style_computer: &'a StyleComputer<'a>,
     start: usize,
 }
 
 impl<'a> IndexColumn<'a> {
-    fn new(color_hm: &'a NuStyleTable, start: usize) -> Self {
-        Self { color_hm, start }
+    fn new(style_computer: &'a StyleComputer, start: usize) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            style_computer,
+            start,
+        }
     }
 
     fn estimate_width(&self, height: u16) -> usize {
@@ -557,11 +562,13 @@ impl<'a> IndexColumn<'a> {
 
 impl Widget for IndexColumn<'_> {
     fn render(self, area: Rect, buf: &mut Buffer) {
-        let style = nu_style_to_tui(self.color_hm["row_index"]);
-
         for row in 0..area.height {
             let i = 1 + row as usize + self.start;
             let text = i.to_string();
+            let style = nu_style_to_tui(self.style_computer.compute(
+                "row_index",
+                &Value::string(text.as_str(), nu_protocol::Span::unknown()),
+            ));
 
             let p = Paragraph::new(text)
                 .style(style)
@@ -606,15 +613,17 @@ fn render_header_borders(
 
 fn render_index(
     buf: &mut Buffer,
+
     area: Rect,
-    color_hm: &NuStyleTable,
+
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     start_index: usize,
     padding_left: u16,
     padding_right: u16,
 ) -> u16 {
     let mut width = render_space(buf, area.x, area.y, area.height, padding_left);
 
-    let index = IndexColumn::new(color_hm, start_index);
+    let index = IndexColumn::new(style_computer, start_index);
     let w = index.estimate_width(area.height) as u16;
     let area = Rect::new(area.x + width, area.y, w, area.height);
 
@@ -769,12 +778,12 @@ fn strip_string(text: &str) -> String {
         .unwrap_or_else(|| text.to_owned())
 }
 
-fn head_row_text(head: &str, color_hm: &NuStyleTable) -> NuText {
+fn head_row_text(head: &str, style_computer: &StyleComputer) -> NuText {
     (
         String::from(head),
-        TextStyle {
-            alignment: Alignment::Center,
-            color_style: Some(color_hm["header"]),
-        },
+        TextStyle::with_style(
+            Alignment::Center,
+            style_computer.compute("header", &Value::string(head, nu_protocol::Span::unknown())),
+        ),
     )
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/util.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/util.rs
index c8fea1848..db92cab35 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/views/util.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/views/util.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 
-use nu_color_config::style_primitive;
-use nu_table::{string_width, Alignment, TextStyle};
+use nu_color_config::{Alignment, StyleComputer};
+use nu_protocol::{ShellError, Value};
+use nu_table::{string_width, TextStyle};
 use tui::{
     buffer::Buffer,
     style::{Color, Modifier, Style},
     text::Span,
 };
 
-use crate::nu_common::{truncate_str, NuColor, NuStyle, NuStyleTable, NuText};
+use crate::nu_common::{truncate_str, NuColor, NuStyle, NuText};
 
 pub fn set_span(
     buf: &mut Buffer,
@@ -118,39 +119,53 @@ pub fn text_style_to_tui_style(style: TextStyle) -> tui::style::Style {
     out
 }
 
+// This is identical to the same function in nu-explore/src/nu_common
 pub fn make_styled_string(
+    style_computer: &StyleComputer,
     text: String,
-    text_type: &str,
-    col: usize,
-    with_index: bool,
-    color_hm: &NuStyleTable,
+    value: Option<&Value>, // None represents table holes.
     float_precision: usize,
 ) -> NuText {
-    if col == 0 && with_index {
-        return (text, index_text_style(color_hm));
-    }
-
-    let style = style_primitive(text_type, color_hm);
-
-    let mut text = text;
-    if text_type == "float" {
-        text = convert_with_precision(&text, float_precision);
-    }
-
-    (text, style)
-}
-
-fn index_text_style(color_hm: &std::collections::HashMap<String, NuStyle>) -> TextStyle {
-    TextStyle {
-        alignment: Alignment::Right,
-        color_style: Some(color_hm["row_index"]),
+    match value {
+        Some(value) => {
+            match value {
+                Value::Float { .. } => {
+                    // set dynamic precision from config
+                    let precise_number = match convert_with_precision(&text, float_precision) {
+                        Ok(num) => num,
+                        Err(e) => e.to_string(),
+                    };
+                    (precise_number, style_computer.style_primitive(value))
+                }
+                _ => (text, style_computer.style_primitive(value)),
+            }
+        }
+        None => {
+            // Though holes are not the same as null, the closure for "empty" is passed a null anyway.
+            (
+                text,
+                TextStyle::with_style(
+                    Alignment::Center,
+                    style_computer.compute("empty", &Value::nothing(nu_protocol::Span::unknown())),
+                ),
+            )
+        }
     }
 }
 
-fn convert_with_precision(val: &str, precision: usize) -> String {
+fn convert_with_precision(val: &str, precision: usize) -> Result<String, ShellError> {
     // vall will always be a f64 so convert it with precision formatting
-    match val.trim().parse::<f64>() {
-        Ok(f) => format!("{:.prec$}", f, prec = precision),
-        Err(err) => format!("error converting string [{}] to f64; {}", &val, err),
-    }
+    let val_float = match val.trim().parse::<f64>() {
+        Ok(f) => f,
+        Err(e) => {
+            return Err(ShellError::GenericError(
+                format!("error converting string [{}] to f64", &val),
+                "".to_string(),
+                None,
+                Some(e.to_string()),
+                Vec::new(),
+            ));
+        }
+    };
+    Ok(format!("{:.prec$}", val_float, prec = precision))
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs
index f29e66f40..22ca7ad6d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ impl Value {
                                         }
                                     }
                                     "trim" => {
-                                        match try_parse_trim_strategy(value, &config, &mut errors) {
+                                        match try_parse_trim_strategy(value, &mut errors) {
                                             Ok(v) => config.trim_strategy = v,
                                             Err(e) => {
                                                 // try_parse_trim_strategy() already adds its own errors
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ impl Value {
                         }
                     }
                     "explore" => {
-                        if let Ok(map) = create_map(value, &config) {
+                        if let Ok(map) = create_map(value) {
                             config.explore = map;
                         } else {
                             invalid!(vals[index].span().ok(), "should be a record");
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ impl Value {
                     }
                     // Misc. options
                     "color_config" => {
-                        if let Ok(map) = create_map(value, &config) {
+                        if let Ok(map) = create_map(value) {
                             config.color_config = map;
                         } else {
                             invalid!(vals[index].span().ok(), "should be a record");
@@ -1118,7 +1118,7 @@ impl Value {
                     }
                     "table_trim" => {
                         legacy_options_used = true;
-                        match try_parse_trim_strategy(value, &config, &mut errors) {
+                        match try_parse_trim_strategy(value, &mut errors) {
                             Ok(v) => config.trim_strategy = v,
                             Err(e) => {
                                 // try_parse_trim_strategy() already calls eprintln!() on error
@@ -1205,10 +1205,9 @@ Please consult https://www.nushell.sh/blog/2022-11-29-nushell-0.72.html for deta
 
 fn try_parse_trim_strategy(
     value: &Value,
-    config: &Config,
     errors: &mut Vec<ShellError>,
 ) -> Result<TrimStrategy, ShellError> {
-    let map = create_map(value, config).map_err(|e| {
+    let map = create_map(value).map_err(|e| {
         ShellError::GenericError(
             "Error while applying config changes".into(),
             "$env.config.table.trim is not a record".into(),
@@ -1288,55 +1287,17 @@ fn try_parse_trim_methodology(value: &Value) -> Option<TrimStrategy> {
     None
 }
 
-fn create_map(value: &Value, config: &Config) -> Result<HashMap<String, Value>, ShellError> {
+fn create_map(value: &Value) -> Result<HashMap<String, Value>, ShellError> {
     let (cols, inner_vals) = value.as_record()?;
     let mut hm: HashMap<String, Value> = HashMap::new();
 
     for (k, v) in cols.iter().zip(inner_vals) {
-        match &v {
-            Value::Record {
-                cols: inner_cols,
-                vals: inner_vals,
-                span,
-            } => {
-                let val = color_value_string(span, inner_cols, inner_vals, config);
-                hm.insert(k.to_string(), val);
-            }
-            _ => {
-                hm.insert(k.to_string(), v.clone());
-            }
-        }
+        hm.insert(k.to_string(), v.clone());
     }
 
     Ok(hm)
 }
 
-pub fn color_value_string(
-    span: &Span,
-    inner_cols: &[String],
-    inner_vals: &[Value],
-    config: &Config,
-) -> Value {
-    // make a string from our config.color_config section that
-    // looks like this: { fg: "#rrggbb" bg: "#rrggbb" attr: "abc", }
-    // the real key here was to have quotes around the values but not
-    // require them around the keys.
-
-    // maybe there's a better way to generate this but i'm not sure
-    // what it is.
-    let val: String = inner_cols
-        .iter()
-        .zip(inner_vals)
-        .map(|(x, y)| format!("{}: \"{}\" ", x, y.into_string(", ", config)))
-        .collect();
-
-    // now insert the braces at the front and the back to fake the json string
-    Value::String {
-        val: format!("{{{}}}", val),
-        span: *span,
-    }
-}
-
 // Parse the hooks to find the blocks to run when the hooks fire
 fn create_hooks(value: &Value) -> Result<Hooks, ShellError> {
     match value {
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/engine_state.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/engine_state.rs
index abb6ea901..cf2d68365 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/engine_state.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/engine_state.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ static PWD_ENV: &str = "PWD";
 
 // TODO: move to different file? where?
 /// An operation to be performed with the current buffer of the interactive shell.
-#[derive(Clone)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum ReplOperation {
     Append(String),
     Insert(String),
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/Cargo.toml b/crates/nu-table/Cargo.toml
index bcf3850d6..847ae376c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/nu-table/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ version = "0.72.2"
 nu-ansi-term = "0.46.0"
 nu-protocol = { path = "../nu-protocol", version = "0.72.2" }
 nu-utils = { path = "../nu-utils", version = "0.72.2" }
+nu-engine = { path = "../nu-engine", version = "0.72.2" }
+nu-color-config = { path = "../nu-color-config", version = "0.72.2" }
+nu-test-support = { path="../nu-test-support", version = "0.72.2"  }
+# nu-path is used only for test support
+nu-path = { path="../nu-path", version = "0.72.2"  }
+atty = "0.2.14"
 tabled = { version = "0.10.0", features = ["color"], default-features = false }
 json_to_table = { version = "0.3.1", features = ["color"] }
 serde_json = "1"
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/examples/table_demo.rs b/crates/nu-table/examples/table_demo.rs
index bc5671f6e..a420eb6e0 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/examples/table_demo.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/examples/table_demo.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-use nu_table::{Table, TableConfig, TableTheme, TextStyle};
+use nu_color_config::TextStyle;
+use nu_table::{Table, TableConfig, TableTheme};
 use tabled::papergrid::records::{cell_info::CellInfo, tcell::TCell};
 
 fn main() {
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/src/lib.rs b/crates/nu-table/src/lib.rs
index 82a8f5139..5022ddb5b 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 mod nu_protocol_table;
 mod table;
 mod table_theme;
-mod textstyle;
 mod util;
 
+pub use nu_color_config::TextStyle;
 pub use nu_protocol_table::NuTable;
 pub use table::{Alignments, Table, TableConfig};
 pub use table_theme::TableTheme;
-pub use textstyle::{Alignment, TextStyle};
 pub use util::*;
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/src/nu_protocol_table.rs b/crates/nu-table/src/nu_protocol_table.rs
index 688150864..0619b3751 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/src/nu_protocol_table.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/src/nu_protocol_table.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
+use crate::{table::TrimStrategyModifier, Alignments, TableTheme};
+use nu_color_config::StyleComputer;
 use nu_protocol::{Config, Span, Value};
 use tabled::{
     color::Color, formatting::AlignmentStrategy, object::Segment, papergrid::records::Records,
     Alignment, Modify, Table,
 };
 
-use crate::{table::TrimStrategyModifier, Alignments, TableTheme};
-
-/// NuTable has a recursive table representation of nu_prorocol::Value.
+/// NuTable has a recursive table representation of nu_protocol::Value.
 ///
-/// It doesn't support alignement and a proper width controll.
+/// It doesn't support alignement and a proper width control.
 pub struct NuTable {
     inner: tabled::Table,
 }
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ impl NuTable {
         collapse: bool,
         termwidth: usize,
         config: &Config,
-        color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
+        style_computer: &StyleComputer,
         theme: &TableTheme,
         with_footer: bool,
     ) -> Self {
         let mut table = tabled::Table::new([""]);
-        load_theme(&mut table, color_hm, theme);
+        load_theme(&mut table, style_computer, theme);
         let cfg = table.get_config().clone();
 
         let val = nu_protocol_value_to_json(value, config, with_footer);
@@ -200,11 +200,9 @@ fn connect_maps(map: &mut serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>, value: ser
     }
 }
 
-fn load_theme<R>(
-    table: &mut tabled::Table<R>,
-    color_hm: &HashMap<String, nu_ansi_term::Style>,
-    theme: &TableTheme,
-) where
+//
+fn load_theme<R>(table: &mut tabled::Table<R>, style_computer: &StyleComputer, theme: &TableTheme)
+where
     R: Records,
 {
     let mut theme = theme.theme.clone();
@@ -212,11 +210,11 @@ fn load_theme<R>(
 
     table.with(theme);
 
-    if let Some(color) = color_hm.get("separator") {
-        let color = color.paint(" ").to_string();
-        if let Ok(color) = Color::try_from(color) {
-            table.with(color);
-        }
+    // color_config closures for "separator" are just given a null.
+    let color = style_computer.compute("separator", &Value::nothing(Span::unknown()));
+    let color = color.paint(" ").to_string();
+    if let Ok(color) = Color::try_from(color) {
+        table.with(color);
     }
 
     table.with(
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs b/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
index e57da5c56..d97195508 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-use std::{cmp::min, collections::HashMap, fmt::Display};
-
+use crate::table_theme::TableTheme;
 use nu_ansi_term::Style;
+use nu_color_config::TextStyle;
 use nu_protocol::TrimStrategy;
+use std::{cmp::min, collections::HashMap};
 use tabled::{
     alignment::AlignmentHorizontal,
     builder::Builder,
@@ -9,7 +10,6 @@ use tabled::{
     formatting::AlignmentStrategy,
     object::{Cell, Columns, Rows, Segment},
     papergrid::{
-        self,
         records::{
             cell_info::CellInfo, tcell::TCell, vec_records::VecRecords, Records, RecordsMut,
         },
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ use tabled::{
     Alignment, Modify, ModifyObject, TableOption, Width,
 };
 
-use crate::{table_theme::TableTheme, TextStyle};
-
 /// Table represent a table view.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Table {
@@ -577,26 +575,6 @@ fn truncate_columns_by_columns(data: &mut Data, theme: &TableTheme, termwidth: u
     false
 }
 
-impl papergrid::Color for TextStyle {
-    fn fmt_prefix(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
-        if let Some(color) = &self.color_style {
-            color.prefix().fmt(f)?;
-        }
-
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    fn fmt_suffix(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
-        if let Some(color) = &self.color_style {
-            if !color.is_plain() {
-                f.write_str("\u{1b}[0m")?;
-            }
-        }
-
-        Ok(())
-    }
-}
-
 /// The same as [`tabled::peaker::PriorityMax`] but prioritizes left columns first in case of equal width.
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Clone)]
 pub struct PriorityMax;
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/tests/constrains.rs b/crates/nu-table/tests/constrains.rs
index 944514c39..975d8b836 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/tests/constrains.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/tests/constrains.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 mod common;
 
+use common::{create_row, styled_str, test_table, TestCase, VecCells};
 use nu_protocol::TrimStrategy;
 use nu_table::{Table, TableConfig, TableTheme as theme};
 
-use common::{create_row, styled_str, test_table, TestCase, VecCells};
-
 #[test]
 fn data_and_header_has_different_size() {
     let table = Table::new(vec![create_row(3), create_row(5), create_row(5)], (3, 5));
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/tests/expand.rs b/crates/nu-table/tests/expand.rs
index 5b1a69be8..168d38e47 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/tests/expand.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/tests/expand.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 mod common;
 
 use common::{create_row, create_table};
+
 use nu_table::{TableConfig, TableTheme as theme};
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/tests/style.rs b/crates/nu-table/tests/style.rs
index 1226b653b..7fd3ab0bd 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/tests/style.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/tests/style.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 mod common;
 
-use nu_table::{TableConfig, TableTheme as theme};
-
 use common::{create_row as row, VecCells};
+use nu_table::{TableConfig, TableTheme as theme};
 
 #[test]
 fn test_rounded() {
diff --git a/crates/nu-utils/src/lib.rs b/crates/nu-utils/src/lib.rs
index e51852d17..fae1a42c9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ mod deansi;
 pub mod locale;
 pub mod utils;
 
-pub use ctrl_c::was_pressed;
 pub use locale::get_system_locale;
 pub use utils::{
     enable_vt_processing, get_default_config, get_default_env, get_ls_colors,
diff --git a/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu b/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
index 89bc0d25c..1fbaa55e5 100644
--- a/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
+++ b/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ module completions {
 # Get just the extern definitions without the custom completion commands
 use completions *
 
-# for more information on themes see
+# For more information on themes, see
 # https://www.nushell.sh/book/coloring_and_theming.html
 let dark_theme = {
     # color for nushell primitives
@@ -135,11 +135,35 @@ let dark_theme = {
     leading_trailing_space_bg: { attr: n } # no fg, no bg, attr none effectively turns this off
     header: green_bold
     empty: blue
-    bool: white
+    # Closures can be used to choose colors for specific values.
+    # The value (in this case, a bool) is piped into the closure.
+    bool: { if $in { 'light_cyan' } else { 'light_gray' } }
     int: white
-    filesize: white
+    filesize: {|e|
+      if $e == 0b {
+        'white'
+      } else if $e < 1mb {
+        'cyan'
+      } else { 'blue' }
+    }
     duration: white
-    date: white
+    date: { (date now) - $in |
+      if $in < 1hr {
+        '#e61919'
+      } else if $in < 6hr {
+        '#e68019'
+      } else if $in < 1day {
+        '#e5e619'
+      } else if $in < 3day {
+        '#80e619'
+      } else if $in < 1wk {
+        '#19e619'
+      } else if $in < 6wk {
+        '#19e5e6'
+      } else if $in < 52wk {
+        '#197fe6'
+      } else { 'light_gray' }
+    }
     range: white
     float: white
     string: white
@@ -192,11 +216,35 @@ let light_theme = {
     leading_trailing_space_bg: { attr: n } # no fg, no bg, attr none effectively turns this off
     header: green_bold
     empty: blue
-    bool: dark_gray
+    # Closures can be used to choose colors for specific values.
+    # The value (in this case, a bool) is piped into the closure.
+    bool: { if $in { 'dark_cyan' } else { 'dark_gray' } }
     int: dark_gray
-    filesize: dark_gray
+    filesize: {|e|
+      if $e == 0b {
+        'dark_gray'
+      } else if $e < 1mb {
+        'cyan_bold'
+      } else { 'blue_bold' }
+    }
     duration: dark_gray
-    date: dark_gray
+    date: { (date now) - $in |
+      if $in < 1hr {
+        '#e61919'
+      } else if $in < 6hr {
+        '#e68019'
+      } else if $in < 1day {
+        '#e5e619'
+      } else if $in < 3day {
+        '#80e619'
+      } else if $in < 1wk {
+        '#19e619'
+      } else if $in < 6wk {
+        '#19e5e6'
+      } else if $in < 52wk {
+        '#197fe6'
+      } else { 'dark_gray' }
+    }
     range: dark_gray
     float: dark_gray
     string: dark_gray