diff --git a/src/EditProfileDialog.h b/EditProfileDialog.h
--- a/src/EditProfileDialog.h
+++ b/EditProfileDialog.h
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
     void terminalColumnsEntryChanged(int);
     void terminalRowsEntryChanged(int);
     void showTerminalSizeHint(bool);
+    void setDimWhenInactive(bool);
     void showEnvironmentEditor();
     void silenceSecondsChanged(int);
 
diff --git a/src/EditProfileDialog.cpp b/EditProfileDialog.cpp
--- a/src/EditProfileDialog.cpp
+++ b/EditProfileDialog.cpp
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@
 
     // window options
     _ui->showTerminalSizeHintButton->setChecked(profile->showTerminalSizeHint());
+    _ui->dimWhenInactiveCheckbox->setChecked(profile->dimWhenInactive());
 
     // signals and slots
     connect(_ui->dirSelectButton, &QToolButton::clicked, this,
@@ -384,6 +385,9 @@
 
     connect(_ui->showTerminalSizeHintButton, &QCheckBox::toggled, this,
             &Konsole::EditProfileDialog::showTerminalSizeHint);
+
+    connect(_ui->dimWhenInactiveCheckbox, &QCheckBox::toggled, this,
+            &Konsole::EditProfileDialog::setDimWhenInactive);
 }
 
 void EditProfileDialog::showEnvironmentEditor()
@@ -457,6 +461,11 @@
     updateTempProfileProperty(Profile::ShowTerminalSizeHint, value);
 }
 
+void EditProfileDialog::setDimWhenInactive(bool value)
+{
+    updateTempProfileProperty(Profile::DimWhenInactive, value);
+}
+
 void EditProfileDialog::tabTitleFormatChanged(const QString &format)
 {
     updateTempProfileProperty(Profile::LocalTabTitleFormat, format);
diff --git a/src/EditProfileDialog.ui b/EditProfileDialog.ui
--- a/src/EditProfileDialog.ui
+++ b/EditProfileDialog.ui
@@ -343,6 +343,16 @@
             </property>
            </widget>
           </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="dimWhenInactiveCheckbox">
+            <property name="toolTip">
+             <string>Indicate whether the window is active by dimming the colors</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Dim the colors when the window loses focus</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
          </layout>
         </widget>
        </item>
diff --git a/src/Profile.h b/Profile.h
--- a/src/Profile.h
+++ b/Profile.h
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@
          * resizing the application window.
          */
         ShowTerminalSizeHint,
+        /** (bool) If the background color should change to indicate if the window is active
+         */
+        DimWhenInactive,
         /** (QFont) The font to use in terminal displays using this profile. */
         Font,
         /** (QString) The name of the color scheme to use in terminal
@@ -439,6 +442,12 @@
         return property<bool>(Profile::ShowTerminalSizeHint);
     }
 
+    /** Convenience method for property<bool>(Profile::DimWhenInactive) */
+    bool dimWhenInactive() const
+    {
+        return property<bool>(Profile::DimWhenInactive);
+    }
+
     /** Convenience method for property<QFont>(Profile::Font) */
     QFont font() const
     {
diff --git a/src/Profile.cpp b/Profile.cpp
--- a/src/Profile.cpp
+++ b/Profile.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
     , { LocalTabTitleFormat , "tabtitle" , nullptr , QVariant::String }
     , { RemoteTabTitleFormat , "RemoteTabTitleFormat" , GENERAL_GROUP , QVariant::String }
     , { ShowTerminalSizeHint , "ShowTerminalSizeHint" , GENERAL_GROUP , QVariant::Bool }
+    , { DimWhenInactive , "DimWhenInactive" , GENERAL_GROUP , QVariant::Bool }
     , { StartInCurrentSessionDir , "StartInCurrentSessionDir" , GENERAL_GROUP , QVariant::Bool }
     , { SilenceSeconds, "SilenceSeconds" , GENERAL_GROUP , QVariant::Int }
     , { TerminalColumns, "TerminalColumns" , GENERAL_GROUP , QVariant::Int }
@@ -166,6 +167,7 @@
     setProperty(LocalTabTitleFormat, QStringLiteral("%d : %n"));
     setProperty(RemoteTabTitleFormat, QStringLiteral("(%u) %H"));
     setProperty(ShowTerminalSizeHint, true);
+    setProperty(DimWhenInactive, false);
     setProperty(StartInCurrentSessionDir, true);
     setProperty(MenuIndex, QStringLiteral("0"));
     setProperty(SilenceSeconds, 10);
diff --git a/src/TerminalDisplay.h b/TerminalDisplay.h
--- a/src/TerminalDisplay.h
+++ b/TerminalDisplay.h
@@ -696,6 +696,13 @@
      */
     void setCenterContents(bool enable);
 
+    /**
+     * Sets whether the background should change when the window loses focus
+     */
+    void setDimWhenInactive(bool shouldDim) {
+        _dimWhenInactive = shouldDim;
+    }
+
     // Used to show/hide the message widget
     void updateReadOnlyState(bool readonly);
     IncrementalSearchBar *searchBar() const;
@@ -798,7 +805,8 @@
     void inputMethodEvent(QInputMethodEvent *event) Q_DECL_OVERRIDE;
     QVariant inputMethodQuery(Qt::InputMethodQuery query) const Q_DECL_OVERRIDE;
 
-    void updateScrollBarPalette();
+    void onColorsChanged();
+
 protected Q_SLOTS:
 
     void scrollBarPositionChanged(int value);
@@ -954,6 +962,9 @@
     QVector<LineProperty> _lineProperties;
 
     ColorEntry _colorTable[TABLE_COLORS];
+    ColorEntry _dimColorTable[TABLE_COLORS];
+    ColorEntry *_currentColorTable = _colorTable;
+
     uint _randomSeed;
 
     bool _resizing;
@@ -1064,6 +1075,8 @@
 
     qreal _opacity;
 
+    bool _dimWhenInactive;
+
     ScrollState _scrollWheelState;
     IncrementalSearchBar *_searchBar;
 
diff --git a/src/TerminalDisplay.cpp b/TerminalDisplay.cpp
--- a/src/TerminalDisplay.cpp
+++ b/TerminalDisplay.cpp
@@ -137,48 +137,75 @@
     return _colorTable;
 }
 
-void TerminalDisplay::updateScrollBarPalette()
+static void setPaletteColors(QPalette *palette, const QPalette::ColorGroup group, const QColor &fg, const QColor &bg)
 {
-    QColor backgroundColor = _colorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR];
+    palette->setColor(group, QPalette::Window, bg);
+
+    // Fix the scrollbar
+    // this is a workaround to add some readability to old themes like Fusion
+    // changing the light value for button a bit makes themes like fusion, windows and oxygen way more readable and pleasing
+    QColor button = bg.toHsv();
+    if (button.valueF() < 0.5) {
+        button = button.lighter();
+    } else {
+        button = button.darker();
+    }
+    palette->setColor(group, QPalette::Button, button);
+    palette->setColor(group, QPalette::WindowText, fg);
+    palette->setColor(group, QPalette::ButtonText, fg);
+}
+
+void TerminalDisplay::onColorsChanged()
+{
+    // Create a dimmed version for indicating unfocused window
+    for (int i = 0; i < TABLE_COLORS; i++) {
+        _dimColorTable[i] = _colorTable[i].darker();
+    }
+
+    // Update the normal widget palette
+    QPalette p = QApplication::palette();
+
+    QColor backgroundColor, buttonColor, buttonTextColor;
+
+    // First set the normal active colors
+    buttonTextColor = _colorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR];
+    backgroundColor = _colorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR];
     backgroundColor.setAlphaF(_opacity);
-    QPalette p = palette();
-    p.setColor(QPalette::Window, backgroundColor);
+    setPaletteColors(&p, QPalette::Active, buttonTextColor, backgroundColor);
 
-    //this is a workaround to add some readability to old themes like Fusion
-    //changing the light value for button a bit makes themes like fusion, windows and oxygen way more readable and pleasing
-    QColor buttonColor;
-    buttonColor.setHsvF(backgroundColor.hueF(), backgroundColor.saturationF(), backgroundColor.valueF() + (backgroundColor.valueF() < 0.5 ? 0.2 : -0.2));
-    p.setColor(QPalette::Button, buttonColor);
+    // Now set the inactive color palette
+    buttonTextColor = _dimColorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR];
+    backgroundColor = _dimColorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR];
+    backgroundColor.setAlphaF(_opacity);
+    setPaletteColors(&p, QPalette::Inactive, buttonTextColor, backgroundColor);
 
-    p.setColor(QPalette::WindowText, _colorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR]);
-    p.setColor(QPalette::ButtonText, _colorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR]);
+    setPalette(p);
+
+    // As explained above, we need to fix the scrollbar palette as well to make fusion look nice
     _scrollBar->setPalette(p);
 
+    update();
 }
 
 void TerminalDisplay::setBackgroundColor(const QColor& color)
 {
-    _colorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR] = color;
+    _currentColorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR] = color;
 
-    QPalette p = palette();
-    p.setColor(backgroundRole(), color);
-    setPalette(p);
-
-    updateScrollBarPalette();
-    update();
+    onColorsChanged();
 }
+
 QColor TerminalDisplay::getBackgroundColor() const
 {
-    QPalette p = palette();
-    return p.color(backgroundRole());
+    return _currentColorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR];
 }
+
 void TerminalDisplay::setForegroundColor(const QColor& color)
 {
     _colorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR] = color;
 
-    updateScrollBarPalette();
-    update();
+    onColorsChanged();
 }
+
 void TerminalDisplay::setColorTable(const ColorEntry table[])
 {
     for (int i = 0; i < TABLE_COLORS; i++) {
@@ -186,6 +213,8 @@
     }
 
     setBackgroundColor(_colorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR]);
+
+    onColorsChanged();
 }
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -470,6 +499,7 @@
     , _readOnlyMessageWidget(nullptr)
     , _readOnly(false)
     , _opacity(1.0)
+    , _dimWhenInactive(false)
     , _scrollWheelState(ScrollState())
     , _searchBar(new IncrementalSearchBar(this))
 {
@@ -533,6 +563,19 @@
         _verticalLayout->setContentsMargins(0, 0, scrollBarWidth, 0);
     });
 
+    // To redraw when focused window changes
+    connect(qApp, &QApplication::focusChanged, this, [=](QWidget *old, QWidget *now) {
+        if (!_dimWhenInactive) {
+            return;
+        }
+        // If old or now is a nullptr, it means that either the old or new widget is not in this application
+        if (!old || !now) {
+            update();
+        }
+    });
+
+
+
     new AutoScrollHandler(this);
 
 
@@ -872,7 +915,7 @@
     }*/
 
     _blendColor = color.rgba();
-    updateScrollBarPalette();
+    onColorsChanged();
 }
 
 void TerminalDisplay::setWallpaper(ColorSchemeWallpaper::Ptr p)
@@ -1001,7 +1044,7 @@
 
     // setup pen
     const CharacterColor& textColor = (invertCharacterColor ? style->backgroundColor : style->foregroundColor);
-    const QColor color = textColor.color(_colorTable);
+    const QColor color = textColor.color(_currentColorTable);
     QPen pen = painter.pen();
     if (pen.color() != color) {
         pen.setColor(color);
@@ -1036,11 +1079,11 @@
     painter.save();
 
     // setup painter
-    const QColor foregroundColor = style->foregroundColor.color(_colorTable);
-    const QColor backgroundColor = style->backgroundColor.color(_colorTable);
+    const QColor foregroundColor = style->foregroundColor.color(_currentColorTable);
+    const QColor backgroundColor = style->backgroundColor.color(_currentColorTable);
 
     // draw background if different from the display's background color
-    if (backgroundColor != palette().background().color()) {
+    if (backgroundColor != getBackgroundColor()) {
         drawBackground(painter, rect, backgroundColor,
                        false /* do not use transparency */);
     }
@@ -1475,8 +1518,14 @@
 {
     QPainter paint(this);
 
+    if (_dimWhenInactive && !isActiveWindow()) {
+        _currentColorTable = _dimColorTable;
+    } else {
+        _currentColorTable = _colorTable;
+    }
+
     foreach(const QRect & rect, (pe->region() & contentsRect()).rects()) {
-        drawBackground(paint, rect, palette().background().color(),
+        drawBackground(paint, rect, getBackgroundColor(),
                        true /* use opacity setting */);
         drawContents(paint, rect);
     }
@@ -1541,7 +1590,7 @@
     getCharacterPosition(cursorPos, cursorLine, cursorColumn, false);
     Character cursorCharacter = _image[loc(qMin(cursorColumn, _columns - 1), cursorLine)];
 
-    painter.setPen(QPen(cursorCharacter.foregroundColor.color(colorTable())));
+    painter.setPen(QPen(cursorCharacter.foregroundColor.color(_currentColorTable)));
 
     // iterate over hotspots identified by the display's currently active filters
     // and draw appropriate visuals to indicate the presence of the hotspot
@@ -3473,8 +3522,8 @@
     const QPoint cursorPos = cursorPosition();
 
     bool invertColors = false;
-    const QColor background = _colorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR];
-    const QColor foreground = _colorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR];
+    const QColor background = _currentColorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR];
+    const QColor foreground = _currentColorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR];
     const Character* style = &_image[loc(cursorPos.x(), cursorPos.y())];
 
     drawBackground(painter, rect, background, true);
@@ -3695,7 +3744,7 @@
         break;
     case QEvent::PaletteChange:
     case QEvent::ApplicationPaletteChange:
-        _scrollBar->setPalette(QApplication::palette());
+        onColorsChanged();
         break;
     default:
         break;
@@ -3774,7 +3823,7 @@
     _colorTable[DEFAULT_BACK_COLOR] = _colorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR];
     _colorTable[DEFAULT_FORE_COLOR] = color;
 
-    update();
+    onColorsChanged();
 }
 
 /* --------------------------------------------------------------------- */
diff --git a/src/ViewManager.cpp b/ViewManager.cpp
--- a/src/ViewManager.cpp
+++ b/ViewManager.cpp
@@ -811,6 +811,7 @@
 
     // show hint about terminal size after resizing
     view->setShowTerminalSizeHint(profile->showTerminalSizeHint());
+    view->setDimWhenInactive(profile->dimWhenInactive());
 
     // terminal features
     view->setBlinkingCursorEnabled(profile->blinkingCursorEnabled());