diff --git a/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.spec.ts
index 25c5be0129..a9988aad6f 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.spec.ts
@@ -7,12 +7,17 @@ import {
 import { MetadataRepresentationType } from '../../core/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.model';
 import { Context } from '../../core/shared/context.model';
 import * as uuidv4 from 'uuid/v4';
+import { environment } from '../../../environments/environment';
+
+let ogEnvironmentThemes;
 
 describe('MetadataRepresentation decorator function', () => {
   const type1 = 'TestType';
   const type2 = 'TestType2';
   const type3 = 'TestType3';
   const type4 = 'RandomType';
+  const typeHier1 = 'TestTypeHier1';
+  const typeHier2 = 'TestTypeHier2';
   let prefix;
 
   /* tslint:disable:max-classes-per-file */
@@ -31,6 +36,12 @@ describe('MetadataRepresentation decorator function', () => {
   class Test3ItemSubmission {
   }
 
+  class TestHier1Ancestor {
+  }
+
+  class TestHier2Unthemed {
+  }
+
   /* tslint:enable:max-classes-per-file */
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -46,8 +57,17 @@ describe('MetadataRepresentation decorator function', () => {
     metadataRepresentationComponent(key + type2, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Workspace)(Test2ItemSubmission);
 
     metadataRepresentationComponent(key + type3, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Workspace)(Test3ItemSubmission);
+
+    metadataRepresentationComponent(key + typeHier1, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Any, 'ancestor')(TestHier1Ancestor);
+    metadataRepresentationComponent(key + typeHier2, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Any)(TestHier2Unthemed);
+
+    ogEnvironmentThemes = environment.themes;
   }
 
+  afterEach(() => {
+    environment.themes = ogEnvironmentThemes;
+  });
+
   describe('If there\'s an exact match', () => {
     it('should return the matching class', () => {
       const component = getMetadataRepresentationComponent(prefix + type3, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Workspace);
@@ -76,4 +96,44 @@ describe('MetadataRepresentation decorator function', () => {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  describe('With theme extensions', () => {
+    describe('If requested theme has no match', () => {
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        environment.themes = [
+          { name: 'requested', extends: 'intermediate' },
+          { name: 'intermediate', extends: 'ancestor' },
+        ];
+      });
+
+      it('should return component from ancestor theme if it has a match', () => {
+        const component = getMetadataRepresentationComponent(prefix + typeHier1, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Any, 'requested');
+        expect(component).toEqual(TestHier1Ancestor);
+      });
+
+      it('should return default component if ancestor theme has no match', () => {
+        const component = getMetadataRepresentationComponent(prefix + typeHier2, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Any, 'requested');
+        expect(component).toEqual(TestHier2Unthemed);
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('If there is a theme extension cycle', () => {
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        environment.themes = [
+          { name: 'extension-cycle', extends: 'broken1' },
+          { name: 'broken1', extends: 'broken2' },
+          { name: 'broken2', extends: 'broken3' },
+          { name: 'broken3', extends: 'broken1' },
+        ];
+      });
+
+      it('should throw an error', () => {
+        expect(() => {
+          getMetadataRepresentationComponent(prefix + typeHier1, MetadataRepresentationType.Item, Context.Any, 'extension-cycle');
+        }).toThrowError(
+          'Theme extension cycle detected: extension-cycle -> broken1 -> broken2 -> broken3 -> broken1'
+        );
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.ts b/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.ts
index 0b5bea33d9..eca08c5c62 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { hasNoValue, hasValue } from '../empty.util';
 import { Context } from '../../core/shared/context.model';
 import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
 import { GenericConstructor } from '../../core/shared/generic-constructor';
+import { resolveTheme } from '../object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator';
 
 export const METADATA_REPRESENTATION_COMPONENT_FACTORY = new InjectionToken<(entityType: string, mdRepresentationType: MetadataRepresentationType, context: Context, theme: string) => GenericConstructor<any>>('getMetadataRepresentationComponent', {
   providedIn: 'root',
@@ -57,8 +58,9 @@ export function getMetadataRepresentationComponent(entityType: string, mdReprese
     if (hasValue(entityAndMDRepMap)) {
       const contextMap = entityAndMDRepMap.get(context);
       if (hasValue(contextMap)) {
-        if (hasValue(contextMap.get(theme))) {
-          return contextMap.get(theme);
+        const match = resolveTheme(contextMap, theme);
+        if (hasValue(match)) {
+          return match;
         }
         if (hasValue(contextMap.get(DEFAULT_THEME))) {
           return contextMap.get(DEFAULT_THEME);
diff --git a/src/app/shared/mocks/theme-service.mock.ts b/src/app/shared/mocks/theme-service.mock.ts
index 3594270807..058ba993bc 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/mocks/theme-service.mock.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/mocks/theme-service.mock.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,18 @@
 import { ThemeService } from '../theme-support/theme.service';
 import { of as observableOf } from 'rxjs';
+import { ThemeConfig } from '../../../config/theme.model';
+import { isNotEmpty } from '../empty.util';
 
-export function getMockThemeService(themeName = 'base'): ThemeService {
-  return jasmine.createSpyObj('themeService', {
+export function getMockThemeService(themeName = 'base', themes?: ThemeConfig[]): ThemeService {
+  const spy = jasmine.createSpyObj('themeService', {
     getThemeName: themeName,
-    getThemeName$: observableOf(themeName)
+    getThemeName$: observableOf(themeName),
+    getThemeConfigFor: undefined,
   });
+
+  if (isNotEmpty(themes)) {
+    spy.getThemeConfigFor.and.callFake((name: string) => themes.find(theme => theme.name === name));
+  }
+
+  return spy;
 }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.spec.ts
index 19765f86b0..d3c7a5a1e1 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.spec.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,16 @@ import { Item } from '../../../../core/shared/item.model';
 import { ViewMode } from '../../../../core/shared/view-mode.model';
 import { getListableObjectComponent, listableObjectComponent } from './listable-object.decorator';
 import { Context } from '../../../../core/shared/context.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment';
+
+let ogEnvironmentThemes;
 
 describe('ListableObject decorator function', () => {
   const type1 = 'TestType';
   const type2 = 'TestType2';
   const type3 = 'TestType3';
+  const typeHier1 = 'TestTypeHier1';
+  const typeHier2 = 'TestTypeHier2';
 
   /* tslint:disable:max-classes-per-file */
   class Test1List {
@@ -27,6 +32,12 @@ describe('ListableObject decorator function', () => {
   class Test3DetailedSubmission {
   }
 
+  class TestHier1Ancestor {
+  }
+
+  class TestHier2Unthemed {
+  }
+
   /* tslint:enable:max-classes-per-file */
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -38,6 +49,15 @@ describe('ListableObject decorator function', () => {
 
     listableObjectComponent(type3, ViewMode.ListElement)(Test3List);
     listableObjectComponent(type3, ViewMode.DetailedListElement, Context.Workspace)(Test3DetailedSubmission);
+
+    listableObjectComponent(typeHier1, ViewMode.ListElement, Context.Any, 'ancestor')(TestHier1Ancestor);
+    listableObjectComponent(typeHier2, ViewMode.ListElement, Context.Any)(TestHier2Unthemed);
+
+    ogEnvironmentThemes = environment.themes;
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    environment.themes = ogEnvironmentThemes;
   });
 
   const gridDecorator = listableObjectComponent('Item', ViewMode.GridElement);
@@ -80,4 +100,44 @@ describe('ListableObject decorator function', () => {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  describe('With theme extensions', () => {
+    describe('If requested theme has no match', () => {
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        environment.themes = [
+          { name: 'requested', extends: 'intermediate' },
+          { name: 'intermediate', extends: 'ancestor' },
+        ];
+      });
+
+      it('should return component from ancestor theme if it has a match', () => {
+        const component = getListableObjectComponent([typeHier1], ViewMode.ListElement, Context.Any, 'requested');
+        expect(component).toEqual(TestHier1Ancestor);
+      });
+
+      it('should return default component if ancestor theme has no match', () => {
+        const component = getListableObjectComponent([typeHier2], ViewMode.ListElement, Context.Any, 'requested');
+        expect(component).toEqual(TestHier2Unthemed);
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('If there is a theme extension cycle', () => {
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        environment.themes = [
+          { name: 'extension-cycle', extends: 'broken1' },
+          { name: 'broken1', extends: 'broken2' },
+          { name: 'broken2', extends: 'broken3' },
+          { name: 'broken3', extends: 'broken1' },
+        ];
+      });
+
+      it('should throw an error', () => {
+        expect(() => {
+          getListableObjectComponent([typeHier1], ViewMode.ListElement, Context.Any, 'extension-cycle');
+        }).toThrowError(
+          'Theme extension cycle detected: extension-cycle -> broken1 -> broken2 -> broken3 -> broken1'
+        );
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.ts b/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.ts
index 91140f0ea1..5df2683bb9 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,26 @@
 import { ViewMode } from '../../../../core/shared/view-mode.model';
 import { Context } from '../../../../core/shared/context.model';
-import { hasNoValue, hasValue } from '../../../empty.util';
+import { hasNoValue, hasValue, isNotEmpty } from '../../../empty.util';
 import {
   DEFAULT_CONTEXT,
   DEFAULT_THEME
 } from '../../../metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator';
 import { GenericConstructor } from '../../../../core/shared/generic-constructor';
 import { ListableObject } from '../listable-object.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment';
+import { ThemeConfig } from '../../../../../config/theme.model';
+import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
 
 export const DEFAULT_VIEW_MODE = ViewMode.ListElement;
 
+/**
+ * Factory to allow us to inject getThemeConfigFor so we can mock it in tests
+ */
+export const GET_THEME_CONFIG_FOR_FACTORY = new InjectionToken<(str) => ThemeConfig>('getThemeConfigFor', {
+  providedIn: 'root',
+  factory: () => getThemeConfigFor
+});
+
 const map = new Map();
 
 /**
@@ -54,8 +65,9 @@ export function getListableObjectComponent(types: (string | GenericConstructor<L
       if (hasValue(typeModeMap)) {
         const contextMap = typeModeMap.get(context);
         if (hasValue(contextMap)) {
-          if (hasValue(contextMap.get(theme))) {
-            return contextMap.get(theme);
+          const match = resolveTheme(contextMap, theme);
+          if (hasValue(match)) {
+            return match;
           }
           if (bestMatchValue < 3 && hasValue(contextMap.get(DEFAULT_THEME))) {
             bestMatchValue = 3;
@@ -80,3 +92,35 @@ export function getListableObjectComponent(types: (string | GenericConstructor<L
   }
   return bestMatch;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Searches for a ThemeConfig by its name;
+ */
+export const getThemeConfigFor = (themeName: string): ThemeConfig => {
+  return environment.themes.find(theme => theme.name === themeName);
+};
+
+/**
+ * Find a match in the given map for the given theme name, taking theme extension into account
+ *
+ * @param contextMap A map of theme names to components
+ * @param themeName The name of the theme to check
+ * @param checkedThemeNames The list of theme names that are already checked
+ */
+export const resolveTheme = (contextMap: Map<any, any>, themeName: string, checkedThemeNames: string[] = []): any => {
+  const match = contextMap.get(themeName);
+  if (hasValue(match)) {
+    return match;
+  } else {
+    const cfg = getThemeConfigFor(themeName);
+    if (hasValue(cfg) && isNotEmpty(cfg.extends)) {
+      const nextTheme = cfg.extends;
+      const nextCheckedThemeNames = [...checkedThemeNames, themeName];
+      if (checkedThemeNames.includes(nextTheme)) {
+        throw new Error('Theme extension cycle detected: ' + [...nextCheckedThemeNames, nextTheme].join(' -> '));
+      } else {
+        return resolveTheme(contextMap, nextTheme, nextCheckedThemeNames);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+};
diff --git a/src/app/shared/theme-support/theme.service.ts b/src/app/shared/theme-support/theme.service.ts
index 7b0af93e04..7f000447e4 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/theme-support/theme.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/theme-support/theme.service.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
-import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+import { Injectable, Inject } from '@angular/core';
 import { Store, createFeatureSelector, createSelector, select } from '@ngrx/store';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/internal/Observable';
 import { ThemeState } from './theme.reducer';
 import { SetThemeAction } from './theme.actions';
 import { take } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { hasValue } from '../empty.util';
+import { ThemeConfig } from '../../../config/theme.model';
+import { environment } from '../../../environments/environment';
+import {
+  GET_THEME_CONFIG_FOR_FACTORY,
+  getThemeConfigFor
+} from '../object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object.decorator';
 
 export const themeStateSelector = createFeatureSelector<ThemeState>('theme');
 
@@ -19,6 +25,7 @@ export const currentThemeSelector = createSelector(
 export class ThemeService {
   constructor(
     private store: Store<ThemeState>,
+    @Inject(GET_THEME_CONFIG_FOR_FACTORY) private gtcf: (str) => ThemeConfig
   ) {
   }
 
@@ -43,4 +50,10 @@ export class ThemeService {
     );
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Searches for a ThemeConfig by its name;
+   */
+  getThemeConfigFor(themeName: string): ThemeConfig {
+    return this.gtcf(themeName);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.spec.ts
index abaee28a29..1db6de072d 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.spec.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { VarDirective } from '../utils/var.directive';
 import { ThemeService } from './theme.service';
 import { getMockThemeService } from '../mocks/theme-service.mock';
 import { TestComponent } from './test/test.component.spec';
+import { ThemeConfig } from '../../../config/theme.model';
 
 /* tslint:disable:max-classes-per-file */
 @Component({
@@ -32,8 +33,8 @@ describe('ThemedComponent', () => {
   let fixture: ComponentFixture<TestThemedComponent>;
   let themeService: ThemeService;
 
-  function setupTestingModuleForTheme(theme: string) {
-    themeService = getMockThemeService(theme);
+  function setupTestingModuleForTheme(theme: string, themes?: ThemeConfig[]) {
+    themeService = getMockThemeService(theme, themes);
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [],
       declarations: [TestThemedComponent, VarDirective],
@@ -44,17 +45,20 @@ describe('ThemedComponent', () => {
     }).compileComponents();
   }
 
+  function initComponent() {
+    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestThemedComponent);
+    component = fixture.componentInstance;
+    spyOn(component as any, 'importThemedComponent').and.callThrough();
+    component.testInput = 'changed';
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+  }
+
   describe('when the current theme matches a themed component', () => {
     beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
       setupTestingModuleForTheme('custom');
     }));
 
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestThemedComponent);
-      component = fixture.componentInstance;
-      component.testInput = 'changed';
-      fixture.detectChanges();
-    });
+    beforeEach(initComponent);
 
     it('should set compRef to the themed component', waitForAsync(() => {
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
@@ -70,28 +74,127 @@ describe('ThemedComponent', () => {
   });
 
   describe('when the current theme doesn\'t match a themed component', () => {
-    beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
-      setupTestingModuleForTheme('non-existing-theme');
-    }));
+    describe('and it doesn\'t extend another theme', () => {
+      beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+        setupTestingModuleForTheme('non-existing-theme');
+      }));
 
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestThemedComponent);
-      component = fixture.componentInstance;
-      component.testInput = 'changed';
-      fixture.detectChanges();
+      beforeEach(initComponent);
+
+      it('should set compRef to the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
+        fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+          expect((component as any).compRef.instance.type).toEqual('default');
+        });
+      }));
+
+      it('should sync up this component\'s input with the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
+        fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+          expect((component as any).compRef.instance.testInput).toEqual('changed');
+        });
+      }));
     });
 
-    it('should set compRef to the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
-      fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
-        expect((component as any).compRef.instance.type).toEqual('default');
-      });
-    }));
+    describe('and it extends another theme', () => {
+      describe('that doesn\'t match it either', () => {
+        beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+          setupTestingModuleForTheme('current-theme', [
+            { name: 'current-theme', extends: 'non-existing-theme' },
+          ]);
+        }));
 
-    it('should sync up this component\'s input with the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
-      fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
-        expect((component as any).compRef.instance.testInput).toEqual('changed');
+        beforeEach(initComponent);
+
+        it('should set compRef to the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('current-theme');
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('non-existing-theme');
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.type).toEqual('default');
+          });
+        }));
+
+        it('should sync up this component\'s input with the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.testInput).toEqual('changed');
+          });
+        }));
       });
-    }));
+
+      describe('that does match it', () => {
+        beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+          setupTestingModuleForTheme('current-theme', [
+            { name: 'current-theme', extends: 'custom' },
+          ]);
+        }));
+
+        beforeEach(initComponent);
+
+        it('should set compRef to the themed component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('current-theme');
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('custom');
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.type).toEqual('themed');
+          });
+        }));
+
+        it('should sync up this component\'s input with the themed component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.testInput).toEqual('changed');
+          });
+        }));
+      });
+
+      describe('that extends another theme that doesn\'t match it either', () => {
+        beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+          setupTestingModuleForTheme('current-theme', [
+            { name: 'current-theme', extends: 'parent-theme' },
+            { name: 'parent-theme', extends: 'non-existing-theme' },
+          ]);
+        }));
+
+        beforeEach(initComponent);
+
+        it('should set compRef to the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('current-theme');
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('parent-theme');
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('non-existing-theme');
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.type).toEqual('default');
+          });
+        }));
+
+        it('should sync up this component\'s input with the default component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.testInput).toEqual('changed');
+          });
+        }));
+      });
+
+      describe('that extends another theme that does match it', () => {
+        beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+          setupTestingModuleForTheme('current-theme', [
+            { name: 'current-theme', extends: 'parent-theme' },
+            { name: 'parent-theme', extends: 'custom' },
+          ]);
+        }));
+
+        beforeEach(initComponent);
+
+        it('should set compRef to the themed component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('current-theme');
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('parent-theme');
+            expect((component as any).importThemedComponent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('custom');
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.type).toEqual('themed');
+          });
+        }));
+
+        it('should sync up this component\'s input with the themed component', waitForAsync(() => {
+          fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+            expect((component as any).compRef.instance.testInput).toEqual('changed');
+          });
+        }));
+      });
+    });
   });
 });
 /* tslint:enable:max-classes-per-file */
diff --git a/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.ts b/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.ts
index 1a41327209..6646c0aa30 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/theme-support/themed.component.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
   OnChanges
 } from '@angular/core';
 import { hasValue, isNotEmpty } from '../empty.util';
-import { Subscription } from 'rxjs';
+import { Observable, of as observableOf, Subscription } from 'rxjs';
 import { ThemeService } from './theme.service';
 import { fromPromise } from 'rxjs/internal-compatibility';
 import { catchError, switchMap, map } from 'rxjs/operators';
@@ -69,31 +69,27 @@ export abstract class ThemedComponent<T> implements OnInit, OnDestroy, OnChanges
       this.lazyLoadSub.unsubscribe();
     }
 
-    this.lazyLoadSub =
-      fromPromise(this.importThemedComponent(this.themeService.getThemeName())).pipe(
-        // if there is no themed version of the component an exception is thrown,
-        // catch it and return null instead
-        catchError(() => [null]),
-        switchMap((themedFile: any) => {
-          if (hasValue(themedFile) && hasValue(themedFile[this.getComponentName()])) {
-            // if the file is not null, and exports a component with the specified name,
-            // return that component
-            return [themedFile[this.getComponentName()]];
-          } else {
-            // otherwise import and return the default component
-            return fromPromise(this.importUnthemedComponent()).pipe(
-              map((unthemedFile: any) => {
-                return unthemedFile[this.getComponentName()];
-              })
-            );
-          }
-        }),
-      ).subscribe((constructor: GenericConstructor<T>) => {
-        const factory = this.resolver.resolveComponentFactory(constructor);
-        this.compRef = this.vcr.createComponent(factory);
-        this.connectInputsAndOutputs();
-        this.cdr.markForCheck();
-      });
+    this.lazyLoadSub = this.resolveThemedComponent(this.themeService.getThemeName()).pipe(
+      switchMap((themedFile: any) => {
+        if (hasValue(themedFile) && hasValue(themedFile[this.getComponentName()])) {
+          // if the file is not null, and exports a component with the specified name,
+          // return that component
+          return [themedFile[this.getComponentName()]];
+        } else {
+          // otherwise import and return the default component
+          return fromPromise(this.importUnthemedComponent()).pipe(
+            map((unthemedFile: any) => {
+              return unthemedFile[this.getComponentName()];
+            })
+          );
+        }
+      }),
+    ).subscribe((constructor: GenericConstructor<T>) => {
+      const factory = this.resolver.resolveComponentFactory(constructor);
+      this.compRef = this.vcr.createComponent(factory);
+      this.connectInputsAndOutputs();
+      this.cdr.markForCheck();
+    });
   }
 
   protected destroyComponentInstance(): void {
@@ -113,4 +109,32 @@ export abstract class ThemedComponent<T> implements OnInit, OnDestroy, OnChanges
       });
     }
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Attempt to import this component from the current theme or a theme it {@link NamedThemeConfig.extends}.
+   * Recurse until we succeed or when until we run out of themes to fall back to.
+   *
+   * @param themeName The name of the theme to check
+   * @param checkedThemeNames The list of theme names that are already checked
+   * @private
+   */
+  private resolveThemedComponent(themeName?: string, checkedThemeNames: string[] = []): Observable<any> {
+    if (isNotEmpty(themeName)) {
+      return fromPromise(this.importThemedComponent(themeName)).pipe(
+        catchError(() => {
+          // Try the next ancestor theme instead
+          const nextTheme = this.themeService.getThemeConfigFor(themeName)?.extends;
+          const nextCheckedThemeNames = [...checkedThemeNames, themeName];
+          if (checkedThemeNames.includes(nextTheme)) {
+            throw new Error('Theme extension cycle detected: ' + [...nextCheckedThemeNames, nextTheme].join(' -> '));
+          } else {
+            return this.resolveThemedComponent(nextTheme, nextCheckedThemeNames);
+          }
+        }),
+      );
+    } else {
+      // If we got here, we've failed to import this component from any ancestor theme → fall back to unthemed
+      return observableOf(null);
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/config/theme.model.ts b/src/config/theme.model.ts
index 908589c71c..0130b5ffd8 100644
--- a/src/config/theme.model.ts
+++ b/src/config/theme.model.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ import { getDSORoute } from '../app/app-routing-paths';
 // tslint:disable:max-classes-per-file
 export interface NamedThemeConfig extends Config {
   name: string;
+
+  /**
+   * Specify another theme to build upon: whenever a themed component is not found in the current theme,
+   * its ancestor theme(s) will be checked recursively before falling back to the default theme.
+   */
+  extends?: string;
 }
 
 export interface RegExThemeConfig extends NamedThemeConfig {