diff --git a/src/view/mod.rs b/src/view/mod.rs
index d82919c..0264ade 100644
--- a/src/view/mod.rs
+++ b/src/view/mod.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ pub(crate) fn layer_surface<'a>(
         }),
         &surface.output,
     );
-    match layout {
+    let container = match layout {
         WorkspaceLayout::Vertical => widget::cosmic_container::container(
             row![sidebar, toplevels]
                 .spacing(12)
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ pub(crate) fn layer_surface<'a>(
                 .spacing(12)
                 .height(iced::Length::Fill),
         ),
-    }
-    .into()
+    };
+    crate::widgets::image_bg(container).into()
 }
 
 fn close_button(on_press: Msg) -> cosmic::Element<'static, Msg> {
diff --git a/src/widgets/image_bg.rs b/src/widgets/image_bg.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dafd215
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/widgets/image_bg.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+use cosmic::iced::{
+    self,
+    advanced::{
+        layout::{self, flex::Axis},
+        mouse, overlay, renderer,
+        widget::{tree, Operation, OperationOutputWrapper, Tree},
+        Clipboard, Layout, Shell, Widget,
+    },
+    event::{self, Event},
+    widget::image::{FilterMethod, Handle},
+    ContentFit, Length, Point, Rectangle, Size, Vector,
+};
+use cosmic::iced_core::Renderer as _;
+
+use std::marker::PhantomData;
+
+pub fn image_bg<'a, Msg, T: Into<cosmic::Element<'a, Msg>>>(content: T) -> ImageBg<'a, Msg> {
+    ImageBg {
+        content: content.into(),
+        _msg: PhantomData,
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct ImageBg<'a, Msg> {
+    content: cosmic::Element<'a, Msg>,
+    _msg: PhantomData<Msg>,
+}
+
+impl<'a, Msg> Widget<Msg, cosmic::Renderer> for ImageBg<'a, Msg> {
+    fn tag(&self) -> tree::Tag {
+        self.content.as_widget().tag()
+    }
+
+    fn state(&self) -> tree::State {
+        self.content.as_widget().state()
+    }
+
+    fn children(&self) -> Vec<Tree> {
+        self.content.as_widget().children()
+    }
+
+    fn diff(&mut self, tree: &mut Tree) {
+        self.content.as_widget_mut().diff(tree);
+    }
+
+    fn width(&self) -> Length {
+        self.content.as_widget().width()
+    }
+
+    fn height(&self) -> Length {
+        self.content.as_widget().height()
+    }
+
+    fn layout(
+        &self,
+        tree: &mut Tree,
+        renderer: &cosmic::Renderer,
+        limits: &layout::Limits,
+    ) -> layout::Node {
+        let content = self.content.as_widget().layout(tree, renderer, limits);
+        //let size = limits.resolve(content.size());
+        let size = content.size();
+        layout::Node::with_children(size, vec![content])
+    }
+
+    fn operate(
+        &self,
+        tree: &mut Tree,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        renderer: &cosmic::Renderer,
+        operation: &mut dyn Operation<OperationOutputWrapper<Msg>>,
+    ) {
+        operation.container(
+            None, // XXX id
+            layout.bounds(),
+            &mut |operation| {
+                self.content.as_widget().operate(
+                    tree,
+                    layout.children().next().unwrap(),
+                    renderer,
+                    operation,
+                );
+            },
+        );
+    }
+
+    fn on_event(
+        &mut self,
+        tree: &mut Tree,
+        event: Event,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        cursor: mouse::Cursor,
+        renderer: &cosmic::Renderer,
+        clipboard: &mut dyn Clipboard,
+        shell: &mut Shell<'_, Msg>,
+        viewport: &Rectangle,
+    ) -> event::Status {
+        self.content.as_widget_mut().on_event(
+            tree,
+            event,
+            layout.children().next().unwrap(),
+            cursor,
+            renderer,
+            clipboard,
+            shell,
+            viewport,
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn mouse_interaction(
+        &self,
+        tree: &Tree,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        cursor: mouse::Cursor,
+        viewport: &Rectangle,
+        renderer: &cosmic::Renderer,
+    ) -> mouse::Interaction {
+        self.content.as_widget().mouse_interaction(
+            tree,
+            layout.children().next().unwrap(),
+            cursor,
+            viewport,
+            renderer,
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn draw(
+        &self,
+        state: &Tree,
+        renderer: &mut cosmic::Renderer,
+        theme: &cosmic::Theme,
+        style: &renderer::Style,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        cursor: mouse::Cursor,
+        viewport: &Rectangle,
+    ) {
+        use cosmic::iced_core::image::Renderer;
+
+        // TODO desktop background?
+        let handle =
+            Handle::from_path("/usr/share/backgrounds/pop/kate-hazen-COSMIC-desktop-wallpaper.png");
+
+        let Size { width, height } = renderer.dimensions(&handle);
+        let image_size = Size::new(width as f32, height as f32);
+
+        let bounds = layout.bounds();
+        let adjusted_fit = ContentFit::Cover.fit(image_size, bounds.size());
+
+        let offset = Vector::new(
+            (bounds.width - adjusted_fit.width).max(0.0) / 2.0,
+            (bounds.height - adjusted_fit.height).max(0.0) / 2.0,
+        );
+
+        let drawing_bounds = Rectangle {
+            width: adjusted_fit.width,
+            height: adjusted_fit.height,
+            ..bounds
+        };
+
+        // layer?
+        //renderer.with_layer(bounds, |renderer| {
+        renderer.draw(
+            handle.clone(),
+            FilterMethod::default(),
+            drawing_bounds + offset,
+            [0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0],
+        );
+        //});
+
+        self.content.draw(
+            state,
+            renderer,
+            theme,
+            style,
+            layout.children().next().unwrap(),
+            cursor,
+            viewport,
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn overlay<'b>(
+        &'b mut self,
+        tree: &'b mut Tree,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        renderer: &cosmic::Renderer,
+    ) -> Option<overlay::Element<'b, Msg, cosmic::Renderer>> {
+        self.content
+            .as_widget_mut()
+            .overlay(tree, layout.children().next().unwrap(), renderer)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, Msg: 'static> From<ImageBg<'a, Msg>> for cosmic::Element<'a, Msg> {
+    fn from(widget: ImageBg<'a, Msg>) -> Self {
+        cosmic::Element::new(widget)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/widgets/mod.rs b/src/widgets/mod.rs
index a08542e..134fb87 100644
--- a/src/widgets/mod.rs
+++ b/src/widgets/mod.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ use cosmic::iced::{
 };
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 
+mod image_bg;
+pub use image_bg::image_bg;
 mod workspace_bar;
 pub use workspace_bar::workspace_bar;