Rationale

A thoughtful Obsidian theme for writers, researchers, and academics.

Rationale creates a calm, focused environment for deep work. Four carefully crafted color schemes adapt to your mood and context—from pure monochrome for distraction-free writing to warm, inviting palettes for long research sessions.

Light	Dark

Why Rationale?

Most themes optimize for aesthetics. Rationale optimizes for the work.

• Serif body text reduces eye strain during extended reading and writing
• Clean visual hierarchy helps you navigate complex documents
• Monochrome icons keep your attention on content, not chrome
• Multiple schemes for different contexts—focused writing, evening research, or professional presentations

Color Schemes

Rationale includes four distinct schemes, each available in light and dark modes:

Scheme	Character
Academic	Monochrome—black, white, grey
Anthropic	Warm cream, terracotta accents
Nordic	Cool blue-grays, frost highlights
Old Money	Warm ivory, walnut, bronze

Switch schemes instantly via Style Settings. Each scheme maintains consistent readability while offering a distinct atmosphere.

Features

Typography System

Rationale pairs fonts intentionally:

• Body: Source Serif 4—optimized for extended reading
• Headings: Space Grotesk—modern geometric sans-serif for clear hierarchy
• Code: JetBrains Mono—ligatures and excellent distinction from prose

All fonts are customizable. Bring your own typography via Style Settings.

Writer-Focused Details

• Extended checkbox states — 20+ task statuses with monochrome outline icons ([/] in-progress, [>] deferred, [?] question, [!] important, and more)
• Refined callouts — scheme-aware styling that complements rather than distracts
• Justified text option — for that published-document feel
• Focus mode — hide UI elements for immersive writing
• Cards layout — transform dataview tables into visual grids

Customization

Rationale integrates deeply with Style Settings:

• Color scheme selection
• Custom accent color override
• Typography (body, headings, monospace fonts)
• Layout (border radius, line width)
• Tab styling and visibility
• File explorer (icons, bold folder names)
• OLED dark mode for true blacks

Plugin Compatibility

Tested and styled for popular plugins:

• Full Calendar
• Task Genius
• Dataview
• Calendar
• Kanban
• Notebook Navigator
• Rich Foot

Installation

From Community Themes (Recommended)

1. Open Settings → Appearance → Themes
2. Click Manage and search for "Rationale"
3. Click Install and use

Manual Installation

1. Download theme.css and manifest.json from releases
2. Create folder: .obsidian/themes/Rationale/
3. Place both files in that folder
4. Activate in Settings → Appearance → Themes

Recommended Setup

1. Install the Style Settings plugin
2. Open Style Settings and find "Rationale Theme"
3. Choose your color scheme
4. Adjust typography and layout to taste

Screenshot incorporates Notebook Navigator and Rich Foot plugins.

Custom Checkboxes

Rationale supports extended task statuses with clean, monochrome outline icons:

Syntax	Status	Syntax	Status
[ ]	Uncompleted	[*]	Star/favorite
[x]	Completed	[l]	Location
[/]	In progress	[b]	Bookmark
[-]	Cancelled	[i]	Information
[>]	Deferred	[S]	Savings
[<]	Scheduled	[I]	Idea
[?]	Question	[p]	Pro (thumbs up)
[!]	Important	[c]	Con (thumbs down)
["]	Quote	[f]	Fire/urgent
[k]	Key	[w]	Win
[u]	Trend up	[d]	Trend down

Contributing

Found a bug or have an idea? Open an issue.

License

MIT License

Acknowledgments

• Nord for color inspiration (Nordic scheme)
• Anthropic for design language inspiration (Anthropic scheme)
• Minimal and Sanctum for setting the standard in Obsidian theming