diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 Changes
 =======
 
+Version 1.3.1
+-------------
+
+* Add an ability for a test provider to print colorful/formatted output
+
 Version 1.3
 -----------
 
diff --git a/Test/Tasty/CmdLine.hs b/Test/Tasty/CmdLine.hs
--- a/Test/Tasty/CmdLine.hs
+++ b/Test/Tasty/CmdLine.hs
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 
 -- | Generate a command line parser from a list of option descriptions,
 -- alongside any related warning messages.
+--
+-- @since 1.3
 optionParser :: [OptionDescription] -> ([String], Parser OptionSet)
 optionParser = second getApp . foldMap toSet where
   toSet :: OptionDescription -> ([String], Ap Parser OptionSet)
@@ -132,6 +134,8 @@
 
 -- | The command line parser for the test suite, alongside any related
 -- warnings.
+--
+-- @since 1.3
 suiteOptionParser :: [Ingredient] -> TestTree -> ([String], Parser OptionSet)
 suiteOptionParser ins tree = optionParser $ suiteOptions ins tree
 
diff --git a/Test/Tasty/Core.hs b/Test/Tasty/Core.hs
--- a/Test/Tasty/Core.hs
+++ b/Test/Tasty/Core.hs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 module Test.Tasty.Core where
 
 import Control.Exception
+import Test.Tasty.Providers.ConsoleFormat
 import Test.Tasty.Options
 import Test.Tasty.Patterns
 import Test.Tasty.Patterns.Types
@@ -65,6 +66,17 @@
     -- @FAIL@.
   , resultTime :: Time
     -- ^ How long it took to run the test, in seconds.
+  , resultDetailsPrinter :: ResultDetailsPrinter
+    -- ^ An action that prints additional information about a test.
+    --
+    -- This is similar to 'resultDescription' except it can produce
+    -- colorful/formatted output; see "Test.Tasty.Providers.ConsoleFormat".
+    --
+    -- This can be used instead of or in addition to 'resultDescription'.
+    --
+    -- Usually this is set to 'noResultDetails', which does nothing.
+    --
+    -- @since 1.3.1
   }
   deriving Show
 
@@ -104,6 +116,7 @@
   , resultDescription = "Exception: " ++ show e
   , resultShortDescription = "FAIL"
   , resultTime = 0
+  , resultDetailsPrinter = noResultDetails
   }
 
 -- | Test progress information.
diff --git a/Test/Tasty/Ingredients/ConsoleReporter.hs b/Test/Tasty/Ingredients/ConsoleReporter.hs
--- a/Test/Tasty/Ingredients/ConsoleReporter.hs
+++ b/Test/Tasty/Ingredients/ConsoleReporter.hs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
   , TestOutput(..)
   , buildTestOutput
   , foldTestOutput
+  , withConsoleFormat
   ) where
 
 import Prelude hiding (fail)
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@
 import Control.Concurrent.STM
 import Control.Exception
 import Test.Tasty.Core
+import Test.Tasty.Providers.ConsoleFormat
 import Test.Tasty.Run
 import Test.Tasty.Ingredients
 import Test.Tasty.Options
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@
 import Data.Maybe
 import Data.Monoid (Any(..))
 import Data.Typeable
-import Options.Applicative hiding (str, Success, Failure)
+import Options.Applicative hiding (action, str, Success, Failure)
 import System.IO
 import System.Console.ANSI
 #if !MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0)
@@ -129,6 +131,8 @@
           when (not $ null rDesc) $
             (if resultSuccessful result then infoOk else infoFail) $
               printf "%s%s\n" (indent $ level + 1) (formatDesc (level+1) rDesc)
+          case resultDetailsPrinter result of
+            ResultDetailsPrinter action -> action level withConsoleFormat
 
       return $ PrintTest name printTestName printTestResult
 
@@ -619,28 +623,38 @@
 
 -- (Potentially) colorful output
 ok, fail, skipped, infoOk, infoFail :: (?colors :: Bool) => String -> IO ()
-fail     = output BoldIntensity   Vivid Red
-ok       = output NormalIntensity Dull  Green
-skipped  = output NormalIntensity Dull  Magenta
-infoOk   = output NormalIntensity Dull  White
-infoFail = output NormalIntensity Dull  Red
+fail     = output failFormat
+ok       = output okFormat
+skipped  = output skippedFormat
+infoOk   = output infoOkFormat
+infoFail = output infoFailFormat
 
 output
   :: (?colors :: Bool)
-  => ConsoleIntensity
-  -> ColorIntensity
-  -> Color
+  => ConsoleFormat
   -> String
   -> IO ()
-output bold intensity color str
+output format = withConsoleFormat format . putStr
+
+-- | Run action with console configured for a specific output format
+--
+-- This function does not apply any output formats if colors are disabled at command
+-- line or console detection.
+--
+-- Can be used by providers that wish to provider specific result details printing,
+-- while re-using the tasty formats and coloring logic.
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+withConsoleFormat :: (?colors :: Bool) => ConsoleFormatPrinter
+withConsoleFormat format action
   | ?colors =
     (do
       setSGR
-        [ SetColor Foreground intensity color
-        , SetConsoleIntensity bold
+        [ SetColor Foreground (colorIntensity format) (color format)
+        , SetConsoleIntensity (consoleIntensity format)
         ]
-      putStr str
+      action
     ) `finally` setSGR []
-  | otherwise = putStr str
+  | otherwise = action
 
 -- }}}
diff --git a/Test/Tasty/Options.hs b/Test/Tasty/Options.hs
--- a/Test/Tasty/Options.hs
+++ b/Test/Tasty/Options.hs
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@
   -- So, when we build the complete parser for OptionSet, we turn a
   -- failing parser into an always-succeeding one that may return an empty
   -- OptionSet.)
+  --
+  -- @since 1.3
   optionCLParser :: Parser v
   optionCLParser = mkOptionCLParser mempty
 
diff --git a/Test/Tasty/Providers.hs b/Test/Tasty/Providers.hs
--- a/Test/Tasty/Providers.hs
+++ b/Test/Tasty/Providers.hs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   ( IsTest(..)
   , testPassed
   , testFailed
+  , testFailedDetails
   , Result
   , Progress(..)
   , TestName
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
   where
 
 import Test.Tasty.Core
+import Test.Tasty.Providers.ConsoleFormat (ResultDetailsPrinter, noResultDetails)
 
 -- | Convert a test to a leaf of the 'TestTree'
 singleTest :: IsTest t => TestName -> t -> TestTree
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@
   , resultDescription = desc
   , resultShortDescription = "OK"
   , resultTime = 0
+  , resultDetailsPrinter = noResultDetails
   }
 
 -- | 'Result' of a failed test
@@ -37,4 +40,15 @@
   , resultDescription = desc
   , resultShortDescription = "FAIL"
   , resultTime = 0
+  , resultDetailsPrinter = noResultDetails
   }
+
+-- | 'Result' of a failed test with custom details printer
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+testFailedDetails
+  :: String               -- ^ description
+  -> ResultDetailsPrinter -- ^ details printer
+  -> Result
+testFailedDetails desc printer = (testFailed desc)
+  { resultDetailsPrinter = printer }
diff --git a/Test/Tasty/Providers/ConsoleFormat.hs b/Test/Tasty/Providers/ConsoleFormat.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Test/Tasty/Providers/ConsoleFormat.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+-- | This module can be used by providers to perform colorful/formatted
+-- output and possibly re-use tasty's own output formats.
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+module Test.Tasty.Providers.ConsoleFormat
+  ( ResultDetailsPrinter(..)
+  , ConsoleFormat(..)
+  , ConsoleFormatPrinter
+  , noResultDetails
+  , failFormat
+  , infoFailFormat
+  , infoOkFormat
+  , okFormat
+  , skippedFormat
+  )
+where
+
+import System.Console.ANSI
+
+-- | Console output format
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+data ConsoleFormat = ConsoleFormat
+  { consoleIntensity :: ConsoleIntensity
+  , colorIntensity   :: ColorIntensity
+  , color            :: Color
+  }
+
+-- | Type of console format printer functions
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+type ConsoleFormatPrinter
+  =  ConsoleFormat -- ^ selected console format
+  -> IO ()         -- ^ action to be executed with active console format
+  -> IO ()
+
+-- | Noop result details printer. The default for most providers.
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+noResultDetails :: ResultDetailsPrinter
+noResultDetails = ResultDetailsPrinter . const . const $ return ()
+
+-- | An action that prints additional information about a test using
+-- colors/formatting; see 'Test.Tasty.Providers.testFailedDetails' and
+-- 'Test.Tasty.Runners.resultDetailsPrinter'.
+--
+-- As input, this action is provided with the current indentation level and
+-- a 'ConsoleFormatPrinter', which tells it how perform output.
+--
+-- This is a newtype to allow a 'Show' instance.
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+newtype ResultDetailsPrinter = ResultDetailsPrinter
+  (Int -> ConsoleFormatPrinter -> IO ())
+
+instance Show ResultDetailsPrinter where
+  show _printer = "ResultDetailsPrinter"
+
+-- | Format used to display failures
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+failFormat :: ConsoleFormat
+failFormat = ConsoleFormat BoldIntensity   Vivid Red
+
+-- | Format used to display additional information on failures
+infoFailFormat :: ConsoleFormat
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+infoFailFormat = ConsoleFormat NormalIntensity Dull  Red
+
+-- | Format used to display sucesses
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+okFormat :: ConsoleFormat
+okFormat = ConsoleFormat NormalIntensity Dull  Green
+
+-- | Format used to display additional information on sucesses
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+infoOkFormat :: ConsoleFormat
+infoOkFormat = ConsoleFormat NormalIntensity Dull  White
+
+-- | Format used to display skipped tests
+--
+-- @since 1.3.1
+skippedFormat :: ConsoleFormat
+skippedFormat = ConsoleFormat NormalIntensity Dull  Magenta
diff --git a/Test/Tasty/Run.hs b/Test/Tasty/Run.hs
--- a/Test/Tasty/Run.hs
+++ b/Test/Tasty/Run.hs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import Test.Tasty.Options.Core
 import Test.Tasty.Runners.Reducers
 import Test.Tasty.Runners.Utils (timed)
+import Test.Tasty.Providers.ConsoleFormat (noResultDetails)
 
 -- | Current status of a test
 data Status
@@ -157,6 +158,7 @@
                 "Timed out after " ++ tstr
             , resultShortDescription = "TIMEOUT"
             , resultTime = fromIntegral t
+            , resultDetailsPrinter = noResultDetails
             }
       fromMaybe timeoutResult <$> timeout t a
 
@@ -322,6 +324,7 @@
           , resultDescription = ""
           , resultShortDescription = "SKIP"
           , resultTime = 0
+          , resultDetailsPrinter = noResultDetails
           }
       }
   return ((action, statusVar), (path0, dep_paths))
diff --git a/tasty.cabal b/tasty.cabal
--- a/tasty.cabal
+++ b/tasty.cabal
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 --  see http://haskell.org/cabal/users-guide/
 
 name:                tasty
-version:             1.3
+version:             1.3.1
 synopsis:            Modern and extensible testing framework
 description:         Tasty is a modern testing framework for Haskell.
                      It lets you combine your unit tests, golden
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
     Test.Tasty,
     Test.Tasty.Options,
     Test.Tasty.Providers,
+    Test.Tasty.Providers.ConsoleFormat,
     Test.Tasty.Runners
     Test.Tasty.Ingredients,
     Test.Tasty.Ingredients.Basic