diff --git a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
index eeaa2c1e1..c7fb7815d 100644
--- a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
@@ -224,11 +224,7 @@ CRGBPalette16 IRAM_ATTR &Segment::loadPalette(CRGBPalette16 &targetPalette, uint
       unsigned long timeSinceLastChange = millis() - _lastPaletteChange;
       if (timeSinceLastChange > randomPaletteChangeTime * 1000U) {
         _randomPalette = _newRandomPalette;
-        _newRandomPalette = CRGBPalette16(
-                        CHSV(random8(), random8(160, 255), random8(128, 255)),
-                        CHSV(random8(), random8(160, 255), random8(128, 255)),
-                        CHSV(random8(), random8(160, 255), random8(128, 255)),
-                        CHSV(random8(), random8(160, 255), random8(128, 255)));
+        _newRandomPalette = generateRandomPalette(&_randomPalette);
         _lastPaletteChange = millis();
         handleRandomPalette(); // do a 1st pass of blend
       }
diff --git a/wled00/colors.cpp b/wled00/colors.cpp
index 21c27d651..8dcc735c3 100644
--- a/wled00/colors.cpp
+++ b/wled00/colors.cpp
@@ -91,6 +91,106 @@ void setRandomColor(byte* rgb)
   colorHStoRGB(lastRandomIndex*256,255,rgb);
 }
 
+/*  
+ *generates a random palette based on color theory
+ */
+
+CRGBPalette16 generateRandomPalette(CRGBPalette16* basepalette) 
+{
+  CHSV palettecolors[4]; //array of colors for the new palette
+  uint8_t keepcolorposition = random8(4); //color position of current random palette to keep
+  palettecolors[keepcolorposition] = rgb2hsv_approximate(basepalette->entries[keepcolorposition*5]); //read one of the base colors of the current palette
+  palettecolors[keepcolorposition].hue += random8(20)-10; // +/- 10 randomness
+  //generate 4 saturation and brightness value numbers
+  //only one saturation is allowed to be below 200 creating mostly vibrant colors
+  //only one brigthness value number is allowed to below 200, creating mostly bright palettes  
+
+  for (int i = 0; i<3; i++) { //generate three high values
+    palettecolors[i].saturation = random8(180,255);
+    palettecolors[i].value = random8(180,255);
+  }
+  //allow one to be lower
+  palettecolors[3].saturation = random8(80,255);
+  palettecolors[3].value = random8(50,255);
+
+  //shuffle the arrays using Fisher-Yates algorithm
+  for (int i = 3; i > 0; i--) {
+    uint8_t j = random8(0, i + 1);
+    //swap [i] and [j]
+    uint8_t temp = palettecolors[i].saturation;
+    palettecolors[i].saturation = palettecolors[j].saturation;
+    palettecolors[j].saturation = temp;
+  }
+
+  for (int i = 3; i > 0; i--) {
+    uint8_t j = random8(0, i + 1);
+    //swap [i] and [j]
+    uint8_t temp = palettecolors[i].value;
+    palettecolors[i].value = palettecolors[j].value;
+    palettecolors[j].value = temp;
+  }
+
+  //now generate three new hues based off of the hue of the chosen current color
+  uint8_t basehue = palettecolors[keepcolorposition].hue;
+  uint8_t harmonics[3]; //hues that are harmonic but still a littl random
+  uint8_t type = random8(5); //choose a harmony type
+
+  switch (type) {
+    case 0: // analogous
+      harmonics[0] = basehue + random8(30, 50);
+      harmonics[1] = basehue + random8(10, 30);
+      harmonics[2] = basehue - random8(10, 30);
+      break;
+
+    case 1: // triadic
+      harmonics[0] = basehue + 110 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[1] = basehue + 230 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[2] = basehue + random8(30)-15;
+      break;
+
+    case 2: // split-complementary
+      harmonics[0] = basehue + 140 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[1] = basehue + 200 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[2] = basehue + random8(30)-15;
+      break;
+
+    case 3: // tetradic
+      harmonics[0] = basehue + 80 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[1] = basehue + 170 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[2] = basehue + random8(30)-15;
+      break;
+
+    case 4: // square
+      harmonics[0] = basehue + 80 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[1] = basehue + 170 + random8(20);
+      harmonics[2] = basehue + 260 + random8(20);
+      break;
+  }
+
+  //shuffle the hues:
+  for (int i = 2; i > 0; i--) {
+    uint8_t j = random8(0, i + 1);
+    //swap [i] and [j]
+    uint8_t temp = harmonics[i];
+    harmonics[i] = harmonics[j];
+    harmonics[j] = temp;
+  }
+
+  //now set the hues
+  int j=0;
+  for (int i = 0; i<4; i++) {
+    if(i==keepcolorposition) continue; //skip the base color
+    palettecolors[i].hue = harmonics[j];
+    j++;
+   }
+
+  return CRGBPalette16( palettecolors[0],
+                        palettecolors[1],
+                        palettecolors[2],
+                        palettecolors[3]);
+
+}
+
 void colorHStoRGB(uint16_t hue, byte sat, byte* rgb) //hue, sat to rgb
 {
   float h = ((float)hue)/65535.0f;
diff --git a/wled00/fcn_declare.h b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
index e256ceb5f..3eda4ff82 100644
--- a/wled00/fcn_declare.h
+++ b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #ifndef WLED_FCN_DECLARE_H
 #define WLED_FCN_DECLARE_H
 
+#include "FastLED.h"
 /*
  * All globally accessible functions are declared here
  */
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ class NeoGammaWLEDMethod {
 uint32_t color_blend(uint32_t,uint32_t,uint16_t,bool b16=false);
 uint32_t color_add(uint32_t,uint32_t, bool fast=false);
 uint32_t color_fade(uint32_t c1, uint8_t amount, bool video=false);
+CRGBPalette16 generateRandomPalette(CRGBPalette16* basepalette);
 inline uint32_t colorFromRgbw(byte* rgbw) { return uint32_t((byte(rgbw[3]) << 24) | (byte(rgbw[0]) << 16) | (byte(rgbw[1]) << 8) | (byte(rgbw[2]))); }
 void colorHStoRGB(uint16_t hue, byte sat, byte* rgb); //hue, sat to rgb
 void colorKtoRGB(uint16_t kelvin, byte* rgb);