diff --git a/shell/panelview.h b/shell/panelview.h
--- a/shell/panelview.h
+++ b/shell/panelview.h
@@ -76,6 +76,13 @@
      * how much the panel is distant for the screen edge: used by the panel controller to drag it around
      */
     Q_PROPERTY(int distance READ distance WRITE setDistance NOTIFY distanceChanged)
+        
+    /**
+     * support NoBackground in order to disable blur/contrast effects and remove
+     * the panel shadows
+     * @since 5.9
+     */    
+    Q_PROPERTY(Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints backgroundHints WRITE setBackgroundHints READ backgroundHints NOTIFY backgroundHintsChanged)
 
     /**
      * The borders that should have a shadow
@@ -130,6 +137,9 @@
 
     int distance() const;
     void setDistance(int dist);
+    
+    Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints backgroundHints() const;
+    void setBackgroundHints(Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints hint);
 
     Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders enabledBorders() const;
 
@@ -168,6 +178,7 @@
     void maximumLengthChanged();
     void minimumLengthChanged();
     void distanceChanged();
+    void backgroundHintsChanged();
     void enabledBordersChanged();
 
     //QWindow does not have a property for screen. Adding this property requires re-implementing the signal
@@ -220,6 +231,7 @@
     QTimer m_unhideTimer;
     //only for the mask, not to actually paint
     Plasma::FrameSvg *m_background;
+    Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints m_backgroundHints;
     Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders m_enabledBorders = Plasma::FrameSvg::AllBorders;
     KWayland::Client::PlasmaShellSurface *m_shellSurface;
     QPointer<QScreen> m_lastScreen;
diff --git a/shell/panelview.cpp b/shell/panelview.cpp
--- a/shell/panelview.cpp
+++ b/shell/panelview.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
        m_corona(corona),
        m_visibilityMode(NormalPanel),
        m_background(0),
+       m_backgroundHints(Plasma::Types::StandardBackground),
        m_shellSurface(nullptr),
        m_initCompleted(false)
 {
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@
     setFlags(Qt::FramelessWindowHint|Qt::WindowDoesNotAcceptFocus);
 
     connect(&m_theme, &Plasma::Theme::themeChanged, this, &PanelView::themeChanged);
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(backgroundHintsChanged()), this, SLOT(themeChanged()));
 
     m_positionPaneltimer.setSingleShot(true);
     m_positionPaneltimer.setInterval(150);
@@ -290,6 +292,22 @@
     positionPanel();
 }
 
+Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints PanelView::backgroundHints() const
+{
+    return m_backgroundHints;
+}
+ 
+void PanelView::setBackgroundHints(Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints hint)
+{
+    if (m_backgroundHints == hint) {
+       return;
+    }
+ 
+    m_backgroundHints = hint;
+     
+    emit backgroundHintsChanged();
+}
+
 Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders PanelView::enabledBorders() const
 {
     return m_enabledBorders;
@@ -1056,11 +1074,16 @@
 
 void PanelView::themeChanged()
 {
-    KWindowEffects::enableBlurBehind(winId(), true);
-    KWindowEffects::enableBackgroundContrast(winId(), m_theme.backgroundContrastEnabled(),
-                                                      m_theme.backgroundContrast(),
-                                                      m_theme.backgroundIntensity(),
-                                                      m_theme.backgroundSaturation());
+    if (m_backgroundHints == Plasma::Types::NoBackground) {
+        KWindowEffects::enableBlurBehind(winId(), false);
+        KWindowEffects::enableBackgroundContrast(winId(), false);        
+    } else {
+        KWindowEffects::enableBlurBehind(winId(), true);
+        KWindowEffects::enableBackgroundContrast(winId(), m_theme.backgroundContrastEnabled(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundContrast(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundIntensity(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundSaturation());        
+    }
 
     updateMask();
 }
@@ -1146,41 +1169,48 @@
 void PanelView::updateEnabledBorders()
 {
     Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders borders = Plasma::FrameSvg::AllBorders;
+    
+    if (m_backgroundHints == Plasma::Types::NoBackground) {
+        borders = Plasma::FrameSvg::NoBorder;
+    } else {
+        switch (location()) {
+        case Plasma::Types::TopEdge:
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::TopBorder;
+            break;
+        case Plasma::Types::LeftEdge:
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::LeftBorder;
+            break;
+        case Plasma::Types::RightEdge:
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::RightBorder;
+            break;
+        case Plasma::Types::BottomEdge:
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::BottomBorder;
+            break;
+        default:
+            break;
+        }
 
-    switch (location()) {
-    case Plasma::Types::TopEdge:
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::TopBorder;
-        break;
-    case Plasma::Types::LeftEdge:
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::LeftBorder;
-        break;
-    case Plasma::Types::RightEdge:
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::RightBorder;
-        break;
-    case Plasma::Types::BottomEdge:
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::BottomBorder;
-        break;
-    default:
-        break;
-    }
-
-    if (x() <= m_screenToFollow->geometry().x()) {
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::LeftBorder;
-    }
-    if (x() + width() >= m_screenToFollow->geometry().x() + m_screenToFollow->geometry().width()) {
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::RightBorder;
-    }
-    if (y() <= m_screenToFollow->geometry().y()) {
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::TopBorder;
-    }
-    if (y() + height() >= m_screenToFollow->geometry().y() + m_screenToFollow->geometry().height()) {
-        borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::BottomBorder;
+        if (x() <= m_screenToFollow->geometry().x()) {
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::LeftBorder;
+        }
+        if (x() + width() >= m_screenToFollow->geometry().x() + m_screenToFollow->geometry().width()) {
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::RightBorder;
+        }
+        if (y() <= m_screenToFollow->geometry().y()) {
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::TopBorder;
+        }
+        if (y() + height() >= m_screenToFollow->geometry().y() + m_screenToFollow->geometry().height()) {
+            borders &= ~Plasma::FrameSvg::BottomBorder;
+        }
     }
-
+       
     if (m_enabledBorders != borders) {
-
-        PanelShadows::self()->setEnabledBorders(this, borders);
-
+        if (m_backgroundHints == Plasma::Types::NoBackground) {
+            PanelShadows::self()->removeWindow(this);
+        } else {
+            PanelShadows::self()->setEnabledBorders(this, borders);
+        }
+                
         m_enabledBorders = borders;
         emit enabledBordersChanged();
     }