diff --git a/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp b/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp
index cc8864b9..3d1c2be3 100644
--- a/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp
+++ b/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ namespace Breeze
     QColor Helper::frameBackgroundColor( const QPalette& palette, QPalette::ColorGroup role ) const
     { return KColorUtils::mix( palette.color( role, QPalette::Window ), palette.color( role, QPalette::Base ), 0.3 ); }
 
+    //____________________________________________________________________
+    QColor Helper::sidePanelBackgroundColor( const QPalette& palette, QPalette::ColorGroup role ) const
+    { return KColorUtils::mix( palette.color( role, QPalette::Window ), palette.color( role, QPalette::Base ), 0.6 ); }
+
     //____________________________________________________________________
     QPalette Helper::framePalette( const QPalette& palette ) const
     {
@@ -143,11 +147,14 @@ namespace Breeze
     QPalette Helper::sideViewPalette( const QPalette& palette ) const
     {
         QPalette copy( palette );
-
-        // alter default text color
-        copy.setColor( QPalette::Disabled, QPalette::Text, palette.color( QPalette::Disabled, QPalette::WindowText ) );
-        copy.setColor( QPalette::Active, QPalette::Text, palette.color( QPalette::Active, QPalette::WindowText ) );
-        copy.setColor( QPalette::Inactive, QPalette::Text, palette.color( QPalette::Inactive, QPalette::WindowText ) );
+        copy.setColor( QPalette::Disabled, QPalette::Base, sidePanelBackgroundColor( palette, QPalette::Disabled ) );
+        copy.setColor( QPalette::Active, QPalette::Base, sidePanelBackgroundColor( palette, QPalette::Active ) );
+        copy.setColor( QPalette::Inactive, QPalette::Base, sidePanelBackgroundColor( palette, QPalette::Inactive ) );
+
+//         // alter default text color
+//         copy.setColor( QPalette::Disabled, QPalette::Text, palette.color( QPalette::Disabled, QPalette::WindowText ) );
+//         copy.setColor( QPalette::Active, QPalette::Text, palette.color( QPalette::Active, QPalette::WindowText ) );
+//         copy.setColor( QPalette::Inactive, QPalette::Text, palette.color( QPalette::Inactive, QPalette::WindowText ) );
 
 
         return copy;
diff --git a/kstyle/breezehelper.h b/kstyle/breezehelper.h
index f5c043b4..32148ae7 100644
--- a/kstyle/breezehelper.h
+++ b/kstyle/breezehelper.h
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ namespace Breeze
         //* frame background color
         QColor frameBackgroundColor( const QPalette&, QPalette::ColorGroup ) const;
 
+        //* frame background color
+        QColor sidePanelBackgroundColor( const QPalette&, QPalette::ColorGroup ) const;
+
         //* return altered palette suitable for tinted frames
         QPalette framePalette( const QPalette& ) const;
 
diff --git a/kstyle/breezestyle.cpp b/kstyle/breezestyle.cpp
index 9c03e1fb..19760d45 100644
--- a/kstyle/breezestyle.cpp
+++ b/kstyle/breezestyle.cpp
@@ -296,16 +296,16 @@ namespace Breeze
                 {
                     // force flat
                     // scrollArea->setFrameStyle( QFrame::NoFrame );
-                    scrollArea->setBackgroundRole( QPalette::Window );
-                    scrollArea->setForegroundRole( QPalette::WindowText );
+                    // scrollArea->setBackgroundRole( QPalette::Window );
+                    // scrollArea->setForegroundRole( QPalette::WindowText );
                     scrollArea->setPalette( _helper->sideViewPalette( scrollArea->palette() ) );
                     scrollArea->setProperty( PropertyNames::sidePanelView, true );
 
                     if( QWidget *viewport = scrollArea->viewport() )
                     {
-                        viewport->setBackgroundRole( QPalette::Window );
-                        viewport->setForegroundRole( QPalette::WindowText );
-                        viewport->setAutoFillBackground( false );
+                        // viewport->setBackgroundRole( QPalette::Window );
+                        // viewport->setForegroundRole( QPalette::WindowText );
+                        // viewport->setAutoFillBackground( false );
                         viewport->setPalette( _helper->sideViewPalette( viewport->palette() ) );
                     }