diff --git a/src/lib/button/button.spec.ts b/src/lib/button/button.spec.ts
index a685b2fb31b9..3204769b8fa3 100644
--- a/src/lib/button/button.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/button/button.spec.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ describe('MdButton', () => {
     fixture.detectChanges();
     expect(buttonDebugElement.nativeElement.classList.contains('mat-accent')).toBe(true);
     expect(aDebugElement.nativeElement.classList.contains('mat-accent')).toBe(true);
+
+    testComponent.buttonColor = null;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(buttonDebugElement.nativeElement.classList).not.toContain('mat-accent');
+    expect(aDebugElement.nativeElement.classList).not.toContain('mat-accent');
   });
 
   it('should should not clear previous defined classes', () => {
@@ -59,7 +65,6 @@ describe('MdButton', () => {
     expect(buttonDebugElement.nativeElement.classList.contains('mat-primary')).toBe(false);
     expect(buttonDebugElement.nativeElement.classList.contains('mat-accent')).toBe(true);
     expect(buttonDebugElement.nativeElement.classList.contains('custom-class')).toBe(true);
-
   });
 
   // Regular button tests
diff --git a/src/lib/button/button.ts b/src/lib/button/button.ts
index 8efc0341250a..073916dbecce 100644
--- a/src/lib/button/button.ts
+++ b/src/lib/button/button.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {coerceBooleanProperty, FocusOriginMonitor, Platform} from '../core';
 import {mixinDisabled, CanDisable} from '../core/common-behaviors/disabled';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
 
 
 // TODO(kara): Convert attribute selectors to classes when attr maps become available
@@ -71,8 +72,10 @@ export class MdMiniFabCssMatStyler {}
 
 
 // Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdButton.
-export class MdButtonBase { }
-export const _MdButtonMixinBase = mixinDisabled(MdButtonBase);
+export class MdButtonBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdButtonMixinBase = mixinColor(mixinDisabled(MdButtonBase));
 
 
 /**
@@ -89,13 +92,11 @@ export const _MdButtonMixinBase = mixinDisabled(MdButtonBase);
   },
   templateUrl: 'button.html',
   styleUrls: ['button.css'],
-  inputs: ['disabled'],
+  inputs: ['disabled', 'color'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
 })
-export class MdButton extends _MdButtonMixinBase implements OnDestroy, CanDisable {
-  private _color: string;
-
+export class MdButton extends _MdButtonMixinBase implements OnDestroy, CanDisable, CanColor {
   /** Whether the button is round. */
   _isRoundButton: boolean = this._hasAttributeWithPrefix('fab', 'mini-fab');
 
@@ -110,12 +111,11 @@ export class MdButton extends _MdButtonMixinBase implements OnDestroy, CanDisabl
   get disableRipple() { return this._disableRipple; }
   set disableRipple(v) { this._disableRipple = coerceBooleanProperty(v); }
 
-  constructor(
-      private _elementRef: ElementRef,
-      private _renderer: Renderer2,
-      private _platform: Platform,
-      private _focusOriginMonitor: FocusOriginMonitor) {
-    super();
+  constructor(renderer: Renderer2,
+              elementRef: ElementRef,
+              private _platform: Platform,
+              private _focusOriginMonitor: FocusOriginMonitor) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
     this._focusOriginMonitor.monitor(this._elementRef.nativeElement, this._renderer, true);
   }
 
@@ -123,27 +123,6 @@ export class MdButton extends _MdButtonMixinBase implements OnDestroy, CanDisabl
     this._focusOriginMonitor.stopMonitoring(this._elementRef.nativeElement);
   }
 
-  /** The color of the button. Can be `primary`, `accent`, or `warn`. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string { return this._color; }
-  set color(value: string) { this._updateColor(value); }
-
-  _updateColor(newColor: string) {
-    this._setElementColor(this._color, false);
-    this._setElementColor(newColor, true);
-    this._color = newColor;
-  }
-
-  _setElementColor(color: string, isAdd: boolean) {
-    if (color != null && color != '') {
-      if (isAdd) {
-        this._renderer.addClass(this._getHostElement(), `mat-${color}`);
-      } else {
-        this._renderer.removeClass(this._getHostElement(), `mat-${color}`);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   /** Focuses the button. */
   focus(): void {
     this._getHostElement().focus();
@@ -189,18 +168,18 @@ export class MdButton extends _MdButtonMixinBase implements OnDestroy, CanDisabl
     '[attr.aria-disabled]': '_isAriaDisabled',
     '(click)': '_haltDisabledEvents($event)',
   },
-  inputs: ['disabled'],
+  inputs: ['disabled', 'color'],
   templateUrl: 'button.html',
   styleUrls: ['button.css'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None
 })
 export class MdAnchor extends MdButton {
   constructor(
-      elementRef: ElementRef,
-      renderer: Renderer2,
       platform: Platform,
-      focusOriginMonitor: FocusOriginMonitor) {
-    super(elementRef, renderer, platform, focusOriginMonitor);
+      focusOriginMonitor: FocusOriginMonitor,
+      elementRef: ElementRef,
+      renderer: Renderer2) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef, platform, focusOriginMonitor);
   }
 
   /** @docs-private */
diff --git a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
index 9874e7697b47..3f3fc279cbe4 100644
--- a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
+++ b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {ControlValueAccessor, NG_VALUE_ACCESSOR} from '@angular/forms';
 import {coerceBooleanProperty} from '../core/coercion/boolean-property';
 import {FocusOrigin, FocusOriginMonitor, MdRipple, RippleRef} from '../core';
 import {mixinDisabled, CanDisable} from '../core/common-behaviors/disabled';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
 
 
 /** Monotonically increasing integer used to auto-generate unique ids for checkbox components. */
@@ -57,8 +58,10 @@ export class MdCheckboxChange {
 }
 
 // Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdCheckbox.
-export class MdCheckboxBase { }
-export const _MdCheckboxMixinBase = mixinDisabled(MdCheckboxBase);
+export class MdCheckboxBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdCheckboxMixinBase = mixinColor(mixinDisabled(MdCheckboxBase), 'accent');
 
 
 /**
@@ -82,12 +85,12 @@ export const _MdCheckboxMixinBase = mixinDisabled(MdCheckboxBase);
     '[class.mat-checkbox-label-before]': 'labelPosition == "before"',
   },
   providers: [MD_CHECKBOX_CONTROL_VALUE_ACCESSOR],
-  inputs: ['disabled'],
+  inputs: ['disabled', 'color'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush
 })
 export class MdCheckbox extends _MdCheckboxMixinBase
-    implements ControlValueAccessor, AfterViewInit, OnDestroy, CanDisable {
+    implements ControlValueAccessor, AfterViewInit, OnDestroy, CanColor, CanDisable {
   /**
    * Attached to the aria-label attribute of the host element. In most cases, arial-labelledby will
    * take precedence so this may be omitted.
@@ -183,19 +186,16 @@ export class MdCheckbox extends _MdCheckboxMixinBase
 
   private _indeterminate: boolean = false;
 
-  private _color: string;
-
   private _controlValueAccessorChangeFn: (value: any) => void = (value) => {};
 
   /** Reference to the focused state ripple. */
   private _focusRipple: RippleRef;
 
-  constructor(private _renderer: Renderer2,
-              private _elementRef: ElementRef,
+  constructor(renderer: Renderer2,
+              elementRef: ElementRef,
               private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
               private _focusOriginMonitor: FocusOriginMonitor) {
-    super();
-    this.color = 'accent';
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
   }
 
   ngAfterViewInit() {
@@ -247,27 +247,6 @@ export class MdCheckbox extends _MdCheckboxMixinBase
     }
   }
 
-  /** The color of the button. Can be `primary`, `accent`, or `warn`. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string { return this._color; }
-  set color(value: string) { this._updateColor(value); }
-
-  _updateColor(newColor: string) {
-    this._setElementColor(this._color, false);
-    this._setElementColor(newColor, true);
-    this._color = newColor;
-  }
-
-  _setElementColor(color: string, isAdd: boolean) {
-    if (color != null && color != '') {
-      if (isAdd) {
-        this._renderer.addClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      } else {
-        this._renderer.removeClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   _isRippleDisabled() {
     return this.disableRipple || this.disabled;
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/chips/chip.ts b/src/lib/chips/chip.ts
index 5e06c3839994..da89aa89ee47 100644
--- a/src/lib/chips/chip.ts
+++ b/src/lib/chips/chip.ts
@@ -11,11 +11,19 @@ import {
 
 import {Focusable} from '../core/a11y/focus-key-manager';
 import {coerceBooleanProperty} from '../core/coercion/boolean-property';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
 
 export interface MdChipEvent {
   chip: MdChip;
 }
 
+// Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdChip.
+export class MdChipBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdChipMixinBase = mixinColor(MdChipBase, 'primary');
+
+
 /**
  * Material design styled Chip component. Used inside the MdChipList component.
  */
@@ -23,6 +31,7 @@ export interface MdChipEvent {
   selector: `md-basic-chip, [md-basic-chip], md-chip, [md-chip],
              mat-basic-chip, [mat-basic-chip], mat-chip, [mat-chip]`,
   template: `<ng-content></ng-content>`,
+  inputs: ['color'],
   host: {
     '[class.mat-chip]': 'true',
     'tabindex': '-1',
@@ -35,7 +44,7 @@ export interface MdChipEvent {
     '(click)': '_handleClick($event)'
   }
 })
-export class MdChip implements Focusable, OnInit, OnDestroy {
+export class MdChip extends _MdChipMixinBase implements Focusable, OnInit, OnDestroy, CanColor {
 
   /** Whether or not the chip is disabled. Disabled chips cannot be focused. */
   protected _disabled: boolean = null;
@@ -43,9 +52,6 @@ export class MdChip implements Focusable, OnInit, OnDestroy {
   /** Whether or not the chip is selected. */
   protected _selected: boolean = false;
 
-  /** The palette color of selected chips. */
-  protected _color: string = 'primary';
-
   /** Emitted when the chip is focused. */
   onFocus = new EventEmitter<MdChipEvent>();
 
@@ -58,11 +64,12 @@ export class MdChip implements Focusable, OnInit, OnDestroy {
   /** Emitted when the chip is destroyed. */
   @Output() destroy = new EventEmitter<MdChipEvent>();
 
-  constructor(protected _renderer: Renderer2, protected _elementRef: ElementRef) { }
+  constructor(renderer: Renderer2, elementRef: ElementRef) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
+  }
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
     this._addDefaultCSSClass();
-    this._updateColor(this._color);
   }
 
   ngOnDestroy(): void {
@@ -108,15 +115,6 @@ export class MdChip implements Focusable, OnInit, OnDestroy {
     return this.selected;
   }
 
-  /** The color of the chip. Can be `primary`, `accent`, or `warn`. */
-  @Input() get color(): string {
-    return this._color;
-  }
-
-  set color(value: string) {
-    this._updateColor(value);
-  }
-
   /** Allows for programmatic focusing of the chip. */
   focus(): void {
     this._elementRef.nativeElement.focus();
@@ -147,22 +145,4 @@ export class MdChip implements Focusable, OnInit, OnDestroy {
       this._renderer.addClass(el, 'mat-basic-chip');
     }
   }
-
-  /** Updates the private _color variable and the native element. */
-  private _updateColor(newColor: string) {
-    this._setElementColor(this._color, false);
-    this._setElementColor(newColor, true);
-    this._color = newColor;
-  }
-
-  /** Sets the mat-color on the native element. */
-  private _setElementColor(color: string, isAdd: boolean) {
-    if (color != null && color != '') {
-      if (isAdd) {
-        this._renderer.addClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      } else {
-        this._renderer.removeClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      }
-    }
-  }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/color.spec.ts b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/color.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..580d8fda93de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/color.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import {mixinColor} from './color';
+import {ElementRef, Renderer2} from '@angular/core';
+
+describe('MixinColor', () => {
+
+  it('should augment an existing class with a color property', () => {
+    const classWithColor = mixinColor(TestClass);
+    const instance = new classWithColor();
+
+    expect(instance.color)
+        .toBeFalsy('Expected the mixed-into class to have a color property');
+
+    instance.color = 'accent';
+
+    expect(instance.color)
+        .toBe('accent', 'Expected the mixed-into class to have an updated color property');
+  });
+
+  it('should remove old color classes if new color is set', () => {
+    const classWithColor = mixinColor(TestClass);
+    const instance = new classWithColor();
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList.length)
+      .toBe(0, 'Expected the element to not have any classes at initialization');
+
+    instance.color = 'primary';
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList)
+      .toContain('mat-primary', 'Expected the element to have the "mat-primary" class set');
+
+    instance.color = 'accent';
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList)
+      .not.toContain('mat-primary', 'Expected the element to no longer have "mat-primary" set.');
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList)
+      .toContain('mat-accent', 'Expected the element to have the "mat-accent" class set');
+  });
+
+  it('should allow having no color set', () => {
+    const classWithColor = mixinColor(TestClass);
+    const instance = new classWithColor();
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList.length)
+      .toBe(0, 'Expected the element to not have any classes at initialization');
+
+    instance.color = 'primary';
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList)
+      .toContain('mat-primary', 'Expected the element to have the "mat-primary" class set');
+
+    instance.color = null;
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList.length)
+      .toBe(0, 'Expected the element to have no color class set.');
+  });
+
+  it('should allow having a default color if specified', () => {
+    const classWithColor = mixinColor(TestClass, 'accent');
+    const instance = new classWithColor();
+
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList)
+      .toContain('mat-accent', 'Expected the element to have the "mat-accent" class by default.');
+
+    instance.color = null;
+
+    expect(instance.testElement.classList)
+      .toContain('mat-accent', 'Expected the default color "mat-accent" to be set.');
+  });
+
+});
+
+class TestClass {
+  testElement: HTMLElement = document.createElement('div');
+
+  /** Mock of a RendererV2 for the color mixin. */
+  _renderer: Renderer2 = {
+    addClass: (element: HTMLElement, className: string) => element.classList.add(className),
+    removeClass: (element: HTMLElement, className: string) => element.classList.remove(className)
+  } as any;
+
+  /** Fake instance of an ElementRef. */
+  _elementRef = new ElementRef(this.testElement);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/color.ts b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/color.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..82855231726d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/color.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import {Constructor} from './constructor';
+import {ElementRef, Renderer2} from '@angular/core';
+
+/** @docs-private */
+export interface CanColor {
+  color: string;
+}
+
+/** @docs-private */
+export interface HasRenderer {
+  _renderer: Renderer2;
+  _elementRef: ElementRef;
+}
+
+/** Possible color palette values.  */
+export type ThemePalette = 'primary' | 'accent' | 'warn' | null;
+
+/** Mixin to augment a directive with a `color` property. */
+export function mixinColor<T extends Constructor<HasRenderer>>(base: T, defaultColor?: ThemePalette)
+    : Constructor<CanColor> & T {
+  return class extends base {
+    private _color: ThemePalette = null;
+
+    get color(): ThemePalette { return this._color; }
+    set color(value: ThemePalette) {
+      const colorPalette = value || defaultColor;
+
+      if (colorPalette !== this._color) {
+        if (this._color) {
+          this._renderer.removeClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${this._color}`);
+        }
+        if (colorPalette) {
+          this._renderer.addClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${colorPalette}`);
+        }
+
+        this._color = colorPalette;
+      }
+    }
+
+    constructor(...args: any[]) {
+      super(...args);
+
+      // Set the default color that can be specified from the mixin.
+      this.color = defaultColor;
+    }
+  };
+}
+
diff --git a/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/constructor.ts b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/constructor.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5a695a1b4d23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/constructor.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+/** @docs-private */
+export type Constructor<T> = new(...args: any[]) => T;
diff --git a/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/disabled.ts b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/disabled.ts
index 8c290d1e8fdd..5db4d2968f2d 100644
--- a/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/disabled.ts
+++ b/src/lib/core/common-behaviors/disabled.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 import {coerceBooleanProperty} from '../coercion/boolean-property';
-
-
-/** @docs-private */
-export type Constructor<T> = new(...args: any[]) => T;
+import {Constructor} from './constructor';
 
 /** @docs-private */
 export interface CanDisable {
diff --git a/src/lib/core/selection/pseudo-checkbox/pseudo-checkbox.ts b/src/lib/core/selection/pseudo-checkbox/pseudo-checkbox.ts
index 8b17c2e3fd48..ced221138036 100644
--- a/src/lib/core/selection/pseudo-checkbox/pseudo-checkbox.ts
+++ b/src/lib/core/selection/pseudo-checkbox/pseudo-checkbox.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,18 @@ import {
   ElementRef,
   Renderer2,
 } from '@angular/core';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../../common-behaviors/color';
 
 export type MdPseudoCheckboxState = 'unchecked' | 'checked' | 'indeterminate';
 
+
+// Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdChip.
+export class MdPseudoCheckboxBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdPseudoCheckboxBase = mixinColor(MdPseudoCheckboxBase, 'accent');
+
+
 /**
  * Component that shows a simplified checkbox without including any kind of "real" checkbox.
  * Meant to be used when the checkbox is purely decorative and a large number of them will be
@@ -24,6 +33,7 @@ export type MdPseudoCheckboxState = 'unchecked' | 'checked' | 'indeterminate';
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   selector: 'md-pseudo-checkbox, mat-pseudo-checkbox',
   styleUrls: ['pseudo-checkbox.css'],
+  inputs: ['color'],
   template: '',
   host: {
     '[class.mat-pseudo-checkbox]': 'true',
@@ -32,29 +42,14 @@ export type MdPseudoCheckboxState = 'unchecked' | 'checked' | 'indeterminate';
     '[class.mat-pseudo-checkbox-disabled]': 'disabled',
   },
 })
-export class MdPseudoCheckbox {
+export class MdPseudoCheckbox extends _MdPseudoCheckboxBase implements CanColor {
   /** Display state of the checkbox. */
   @Input() state: MdPseudoCheckboxState = 'unchecked';
 
   /** Whether the checkbox is disabled. */
   @Input() disabled: boolean = false;
 
-  /** Color of the checkbox. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string { return this._color; }
-  set color(value: string) {
-    if (value) {
-      let nativeElement = this._elementRef.nativeElement;
-
-      this._renderer.removeClass(nativeElement, `mat-${this.color}`);
-      this._renderer.addClass(nativeElement, `mat-${value}`);
-      this._color = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  private _color: string;
-
-  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef, private _renderer: Renderer2) {
-    this.color = 'accent';
+  constructor(elementRef: ElementRef, renderer: Renderer2) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/icon/icon.ts b/src/lib/icon/icon.ts
index 83b1027d1726..666291acfa9a 100644
--- a/src/lib/icon/icon.ts
+++ b/src/lib/icon/icon.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ import {
   AfterViewChecked,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {MdIconRegistry} from './icon-registry';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
+
+
+// Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdIcon.
+export class MdIconBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdIconMixinBase = mixinColor(MdIconBase);
 
 
 /**
@@ -51,6 +59,7 @@ import {MdIconRegistry} from './icon-registry';
   template: '<ng-content></ng-content>',
   selector: 'md-icon, mat-icon',
   styleUrls: ['icon.css'],
+  inputs: ['color'],
   host: {
     'role': 'img',
     '[class.mat-icon]': 'true',
@@ -58,8 +67,8 @@ import {MdIconRegistry} from './icon-registry';
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
 })
-export class MdIcon implements OnChanges, OnInit, AfterViewChecked {
-  private _color: string;
+export class MdIcon extends _MdIconMixinBase implements OnChanges, OnInit, AfterViewChecked,
+    CanColor {
 
   /** Name of the icon in the SVG icon set. */
   @Input() svgIcon: string;
@@ -76,34 +85,14 @@ export class MdIcon implements OnChanges, OnInit, AfterViewChecked {
   /** Screenreader label for the icon. */
   @Input('aria-label') hostAriaLabel: string = '';
 
-  /** Color of the icon. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string { return this._color; }
-  set color(value: string) { this._updateColor(value); }
-
   private _previousFontSetClass: string;
   private _previousFontIconClass: string;
   private _previousAriaLabel: string;
 
-  constructor(
-      private _elementRef: ElementRef,
-      private _renderer: Renderer2,
-      private _mdIconRegistry: MdIconRegistry) { }
-
-  _updateColor(newColor: string) {
-    this._setElementColor(this._color, false);
-    this._setElementColor(newColor, true);
-    this._color = newColor;
-  }
-
-  _setElementColor(color: string, isAdd: boolean) {
-    if (color != null && color != '') {
-      if (isAdd) {
-        this._renderer.addClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      } else {
-        this._renderer.removeClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      }
-    }
+  constructor(private _mdIconRegistry: MdIconRegistry,
+              renderer: Renderer2,
+              elementRef: ElementRef) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/lib/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.ts b/src/lib/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.ts
index a88fef129c72..b9265e2e5079 100644
--- a/src/lib/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.ts
+++ b/src/lib/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   Directive,
   ViewChild,
 } from '@angular/core';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
 
 
 // TODO(josephperrott): Benchpress tests.
@@ -49,6 +50,11 @@ type EasingFn = (currentTime: number, startValue: number,
 })
 export class MdProgressSpinnerCssMatStyler {}
 
+// Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdProgressSpinner.
+export class MdProgressSpinnerBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdProgressSpinnerMixinBase = mixinColor(MdProgressSpinnerBase, 'primary');
 
 /**
  * <md-progress-spinner> component.
@@ -61,11 +67,14 @@ export class MdProgressSpinnerCssMatStyler {}
     '[attr.aria-valuemin]': '_ariaValueMin',
     '[attr.aria-valuemax]': '_ariaValueMax'
   },
+  inputs: ['color'],
   templateUrl: 'progress-spinner.html',
   styleUrls: ['progress-spinner.css'],
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
 })
-export class MdProgressSpinner implements OnDestroy {
+export class MdProgressSpinner extends _MdProgressSpinnerMixinBase
+    implements OnDestroy, CanColor {
+
   /** The id of the last requested animation. */
   private _lastAnimationId: number = 0;
 
@@ -77,7 +86,6 @@ export class MdProgressSpinner implements OnDestroy {
 
   private _mode: ProgressSpinnerMode = 'determinate';
   private _value: number;
-  private _color: string = 'primary';
 
   /** Stroke width of the progress spinner. By default uses 10px as stroke width. */
   @Input() strokeWidth: number = PROGRESS_SPINNER_STROKE_WIDTH;
@@ -112,17 +120,6 @@ export class MdProgressSpinner implements OnDestroy {
     this._cleanupIndeterminateAnimation();
   }
 
-  /** The color of the progress-spinner. Can be primary, accent, or warn. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string { return this._color; }
-  set color(value: string) {
-    if (value) {
-      this._renderer.removeClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${this._color}`);
-      this._renderer.addClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${value}`);
-      this._color = value;
-    }
-  }
-
   /** Value of the progress circle. It is bound to the host as the attribute aria-valuenow. */
   @Input()
   @HostBinding('attr.aria-valuenow')
@@ -162,10 +159,11 @@ export class MdProgressSpinner implements OnDestroy {
     }
   }
 
-  constructor(
-    private _ngZone: NgZone,
-    private _elementRef: ElementRef,
-    private _renderer: Renderer2) { }
+  constructor(renderer: Renderer2,
+              elementRef: ElementRef,
+              private _ngZone: NgZone) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
+  }
 
 
   /**
@@ -274,13 +272,14 @@ export class MdProgressSpinner implements OnDestroy {
     'mode': 'indeterminate',
     '[class.mat-spinner]': 'true',
   },
+  inputs: ['color'],
   templateUrl: 'progress-spinner.html',
   styleUrls: ['progress-spinner.css'],
 })
 export class MdSpinner extends MdProgressSpinner implements OnDestroy {
 
   constructor(elementRef: ElementRef, ngZone: NgZone, renderer: Renderer2) {
-    super(ngZone, elementRef, renderer);
+    super(renderer, elementRef, ngZone);
     this.mode = 'indeterminate';
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/select/select.ts b/src/lib/select/select.ts
index a99d08220dcb..c972c1a6586d 100644
--- a/src/lib/select/select.ts
+++ b/src/lib/select/select.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ import {getMdSelectDynamicMultipleError, getMdSelectNonArrayValueError} from './
 import 'rxjs/add/observable/merge';
 import 'rxjs/add/operator/startWith';
 import 'rxjs/add/operator/filter';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
+import {CanDisable} from '../core/common-behaviors/disabled';
 
 
 /**
@@ -95,11 +97,19 @@ export class MdSelectChange {
 /** Allowed values for the floatPlaceholder option. */
 export type MdSelectFloatPlaceholderType = 'always' | 'never' | 'auto';
 
+// Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdSelect.
+export class MdSelectBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdSelectMixinBase = mixinColor(MdSelectBase, 'primary');
+
+
 @Component({
   moduleId: module.id,
   selector: 'md-select, mat-select',
   templateUrl: 'select.html',
   styleUrls: ['select.css'],
+  inputs: ['color'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   host: {
     'role': 'listbox',
@@ -122,7 +132,8 @@ export type MdSelectFloatPlaceholderType = 'always' | 'never' | 'auto';
   ],
   exportAs: 'mdSelect',
 })
-export class MdSelect implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit, ControlValueAccessor {
+export class MdSelect extends _MdSelectMixinBase implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit,
+    ControlValueAccessor, CanColor {
   /** Whether or not the overlay panel is open. */
   private _panelOpen = false;
 
@@ -159,9 +170,6 @@ export class MdSelect implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit, ControlVal
   /** Tab index for the element. */
   private _tabIndex: number;
 
-  /** Theme color for the component. */
-  private _color: string;
-
   /**
    * The width of the trigger. Must be saved to set the min width of the overlay panel
    * and the width of the selected value.
@@ -288,17 +296,6 @@ export class MdSelect implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit, ControlVal
   /** Input that can be used to specify the `aria-labelledby` attribute. */
   @Input('aria-labelledby') ariaLabelledby: string = '';
 
-  /** Theme color for the component. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string { return this._color; }
-  set color(value: string) {
-    if (value && value !== this._color) {
-      this._renderer.removeClass(this._element.nativeElement, `mat-${this._color}`);
-      this._renderer.addClass(this._element.nativeElement, `mat-${value}`);
-      this._color = value;
-    }
-  }
-
   /** Combined stream of all of the child options' change events. */
   get optionSelectionChanges(): Observable<MdOptionSelectionChange> {
     return Observable.merge(...this.options.map(option => option.onSelectionChange));
@@ -313,10 +310,14 @@ export class MdSelect implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit, ControlVal
   /** Event emitted when the selected value has been changed by the user. */
   @Output() change: EventEmitter<MdSelectChange> = new EventEmitter<MdSelectChange>();
 
-  constructor(private _element: ElementRef, private _renderer: Renderer2,
-              private _viewportRuler: ViewportRuler, private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
-              @Optional() private _dir: Dir, @Self() @Optional() public _control: NgControl,
+  constructor(private _viewportRuler: ViewportRuler,
+              private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
+              renderer: Renderer2,
+              elementRef: ElementRef,
+              @Optional() private _dir: Dir,
+              @Self() @Optional() public _control: NgControl,
               @Attribute('tabindex') tabIndex: string) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
 
     if (this._control) {
       this._control.valueAccessor = this;
@@ -327,7 +328,6 @@ export class MdSelect implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit, ControlVal
 
   ngOnInit() {
     this._selectionModel = new SelectionModel<MdOption>(this.multiple, null, false);
-    this.color = this.color || 'primary';
   }
 
   ngAfterContentInit() {
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ export class MdSelect implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnInit, ControlVal
 
   /** Focuses the host element when the panel closes. */
   private _focusHost(): void {
-    this._element.nativeElement.focus();
+    this._elementRef.nativeElement.focus();
   }
 
   /** Gets the index of the provided option in the option list. */
diff --git a/src/lib/slide-toggle/slide-toggle.ts b/src/lib/slide-toggle/slide-toggle.ts
index b4e6415bf7b4..294e16a8e969 100644
--- a/src/lib/slide-toggle/slide-toggle.ts
+++ b/src/lib/slide-toggle/slide-toggle.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 } from '../core';
 import {ControlValueAccessor, NG_VALUE_ACCESSOR} from '@angular/forms';
 import {mixinDisabled, CanDisable} from '../core/common-behaviors/disabled';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
 
 
 export const MD_SLIDE_TOGGLE_VALUE_ACCESSOR: any = {
@@ -44,8 +45,10 @@ let nextId = 0;
 
 
 // Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdSlideToggle.
-export class MdSlideToggleBase { }
-export const _MdSlideToggleMixinBase = mixinDisabled(MdSlideToggleBase);
+export class MdSlideToggleBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdSlideToggleMixinBase = mixinColor(mixinDisabled(MdSlideToggleBase), 'accent');
 
 /** Represents a slidable "switch" toggle that can be moved between on and off. */
 @Component({
@@ -60,19 +63,18 @@ export const _MdSlideToggleMixinBase = mixinDisabled(MdSlideToggleBase);
   templateUrl: 'slide-toggle.html',
   styleUrls: ['slide-toggle.css'],
   providers: [MD_SLIDE_TOGGLE_VALUE_ACCESSOR],
-  inputs: ['disabled'],
+  inputs: ['disabled', 'color'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush
 })
 export class MdSlideToggle extends _MdSlideToggleMixinBase
-    implements OnDestroy, AfterContentInit, ControlValueAccessor, CanDisable {
+    implements OnDestroy, AfterContentInit, ControlValueAccessor, CanDisable, CanColor {
   private onChange = (_: any) => {};
   private onTouched = () => {};
 
   // A unique id for the slide-toggle. By default the id is auto-generated.
   private _uniqueId = `md-slide-toggle-${++nextId}`;
   private _checked: boolean = false;
-  private _color: string;
   private _slideRenderer: SlideToggleRenderer = null;
   private _required: boolean = false;
   private _disableRipple: boolean = false;
@@ -120,11 +122,11 @@ export class MdSlideToggle extends _MdSlideToggleMixinBase
   /** Reference to the ripple directive on the thumb container. */
   @ViewChild(MdRipple) _ripple: MdRipple;
 
-  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef,
-              private _renderer: Renderer2,
+  constructor(elementRef: ElementRef,
+              renderer: Renderer2,
               private _focusOriginMonitor: FocusOriginMonitor,
               private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef) {
-    super();
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
   }
 
   ngAfterContentInit() {
@@ -210,13 +212,6 @@ export class MdSlideToggle extends _MdSlideToggleMixinBase
     }
   }
 
-  /** The color of the slide-toggle. Can be primary, accent, or warn. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string { return this._color; }
-  set color(value: string) {
-    this._updateColor(value);
-  }
-
   /** Toggles the checked state of the slide-toggle. */
   toggle() {
     this.checked = !this.checked;
@@ -238,22 +233,6 @@ export class MdSlideToggle extends _MdSlideToggleMixinBase
     }
   }
 
-  private _updateColor(newColor: string) {
-    this._setElementColor(this._color, false);
-    this._setElementColor(newColor, true);
-    this._color = newColor;
-  }
-
-  private _setElementColor(color: string, isAdd: boolean) {
-    if (color != null && color != '') {
-      if (isAdd) {
-        this._renderer.addClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      } else {
-        this._renderer.removeClass(this._elementRef.nativeElement, `mat-${color}`);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   /** Emits the change event to the `change` output EventEmitter */
   private _emitChangeEvent() {
     let event = new MdSlideToggleChange();
diff --git a/src/lib/toolbar/toolbar.ts b/src/lib/toolbar/toolbar.ts
index fedf302fa950..87d0f85be9b8 100644
--- a/src/lib/toolbar/toolbar.ts
+++ b/src/lib/toolbar/toolbar.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import {
   Component,
   ChangeDetectionStrategy,
-  Input,
   ViewEncapsulation,
   Directive,
   ElementRef,
   Renderer2,
 } from '@angular/core';
+import {CanColor, mixinColor} from '../core/common-behaviors/color';
 
 
 @Directive({
@@ -17,11 +17,19 @@ import {
 })
 export class MdToolbarRow {}
 
+// Boilerplate for applying mixins to MdToolbar.
+export class MdToolbarBase {
+  constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
+}
+export const _MdToolbarMixinBase = mixinColor(MdToolbarBase);
+
+
 @Component({
   moduleId: module.id,
   selector: 'md-toolbar, mat-toolbar',
   templateUrl: 'toolbar.html',
   styleUrls: ['toolbar.css'],
+  inputs: ['color'],
   host: {
     '[class.mat-toolbar]': 'true',
     'role': 'toolbar'
@@ -29,38 +37,10 @@ export class MdToolbarRow {}
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None
 })
-export class MdToolbar {
-
-  private _color: string;
-
-  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef, private _renderer: Renderer2) { }
-
-  /** The color of the toolbar. Can be primary, accent, or warn. */
-  @Input()
-  get color(): string {
-    return this._color;
-  }
-
-  set color(value: string) {
-    this._updateColor(value);
-  }
-
-  private _updateColor(newColor: string) {
-    this._setElementColor(this._color, false);
-    this._setElementColor(newColor, true);
-    this._color = newColor;
-  }
-
-  private _setElementColor(color: string, isAdd: boolean) {
-    if (color != null && color != '') {
-      let element = this._elementRef.nativeElement;
+export class MdToolbar extends _MdToolbarMixinBase implements CanColor {
 
-      if (isAdd) {
-        this._renderer.addClass(element, `mat-${color}`);
-      } else {
-        this._renderer.removeClass(element, `mat-${color}`);
-      }
-    }
+  constructor(renderer: Renderer2, elementRef: ElementRef) {
+    super(renderer, elementRef);
   }
 
 }