diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 84bb14a..40770e2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ upper | false | Changes components to be uppercase | All
 lower | false | Changes components to be lowercase | All
 format | nil | Takes a function . The funtion gets the result of component as argument and it's return value is displayed. So this function can parse and format the output as user wants. | All
 condition | nil | Takes a function. The component is loaded if the function returns true otherwise not. It can be used to load some comoonents on specific cases. | All
-color | nil | Sets custom color for the component in this format<br></br>`color = {fg = '#rrggbb', bg= '#rrggbb', gui='style'}`<br></br>The fields of color table are optional and default to theme | All
+color | nil | Sets custom color for the component in this format<br></br>`color = {fg = '#rrggbb', bg= '#rrggbb', gui='style'}`<br></br>The fields of color table are optional and default to theme <br></br>Color option can also be a string containing highlight group name `color = "WarningMsg"`. One neat trick set the color to highlight group name then change that highlight with :hi command to change color of that component at runtime. | All
 
 #### Using global options
 Global options can be set in two ways. One is as part of options table in setup.
diff --git a/doc/lualine.txt b/doc/lualine.txt
index c58cbc3..6674ce6 100644
--- a/doc/lualine.txt
+++ b/doc/lualine.txt
@@ -287,7 +287,11 @@ option       (default_value)
     Color format:
     `lua color = {fg = '#rrggbb', bg= '#rrggbb', gui='style'}`
     the members of color table are optional and default to theme
-
+    Color option can also be a string containing highlight group name >
+    color = "WarningMsg"` 
+<    One neat trick set the color to highlight group name then change
+    that highlight with :hi command to change color of that component
+    at runtime.
 
 Using global options~
 
@@ -536,4 +540,4 @@ Vimscript config example
     lua require("lualine").setup()
 <
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-vim:tw=80:sw=4:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:noet:
+vim:tw=80:sw=4:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:et:
diff --git a/lua/lualine/component.lua b/lua/lualine/component.lua
index 2047527..47c236c 100644
--- a/lua/lualine/component.lua
+++ b/lua/lualine/component.lua
@@ -37,11 +37,13 @@ local Component = {
 
   create_option_highlights = function(self)
     -- set custom highlights
-    if self.options.color then
+    if type(self.options.color) == 'table' then
       self.options.color_highlight = highlight.create_component_highlight_group(
                                          self.options.color,
                                          self.options.component_name,
                                          self.options)
+    elseif type(self.options.color) == 'string' then
+      self.options.color_highlight_link = self.options.color
     end
   end,
 
@@ -80,6 +82,8 @@ local Component = {
     if self.options.color_highlight then
       self.status = highlight.component_format_highlight(
                         self.options.color_highlight) .. self.status
+    elseif self.options.color_highlight_link then
+      self.status = '%#' .. self.options.color_highlight_link ..'#'.. self.status
     end
     self.status = self.status .. default_highlight
   end,