diff --git a/shell/panelview.h b/shell/panelview.h
--- a/shell/panelview.h
+++ b/shell/panelview.h
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@
     Q_PROPERTY(Qt::Alignment alignment READ alignment WRITE setAlignment NOTIFY alignmentChanged)
 
     /**
+     * Effects for the panel: Enable/Disable blur and background effects
+     */
+    Q_PROPERTY(bool effects READ effects WRITE setEffects NOTIFY effectsChanged)
+    
+    /**
      * how much the panel is moved from the left/right/center anchor point
      */
     Q_PROPERTY(int offset READ offset WRITE setOffset NOTIFY offsetChanged)
@@ -112,6 +117,9 @@
 
     Qt::Alignment alignment() const;
     void setAlignment(Qt::Alignment alignment);
+    
+    bool effects() const;
+    void setEffects(bool effects);
 
     int offset() const;
     void setOffset(int offset);
@@ -169,6 +177,7 @@
     void minimumLengthChanged();
     void distanceChanged();
     void enabledBordersChanged();
+    void effectsChanged();
 
     //QWindow does not have a property for screen. Adding this property requires re-implementing the signal
     void screenToFollowChanged(QScreen *screen);
@@ -209,6 +218,7 @@
     int m_contentLength;
     int m_distance;
     int m_thickness;
+    bool m_effects;
     bool m_initCompleted;
     Qt::Alignment m_alignment;
     QPointer<PlasmaQuick::ConfigView> m_panelConfigView;
diff --git a/shell/panelview.cpp b/shell/panelview.cpp
--- a/shell/panelview.cpp
+++ b/shell/panelview.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
        m_visibilityMode(NormalPanel),
        m_background(0),
        m_shellSurface(nullptr),
+       m_effects(true),
        m_initCompleted(false)
 {
     if (targetScreen) {
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@
     setFlags(Qt::FramelessWindowHint|Qt::WindowDoesNotAcceptFocus);
 
     connect(&m_theme, &Plasma::Theme::themeChanged, this, &PanelView::themeChanged);
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(effectsChanged()), this, SLOT(themeChanged()));
 
     m_positionPaneltimer.setSingleShot(true);
     m_positionPaneltimer.setInterval(150);
@@ -211,6 +213,21 @@
     resizePanel();
 }
 
+bool PanelView::effects() const
+{
+    return m_effects;
+}
+
+void PanelView::setEffects(bool value)
+{
+    if (value == effects()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    m_effects = value;
+    emit effectsChanged();
+}
+
 int PanelView::length() const
 {
     return qMax(1, m_contentLength);
@@ -1056,11 +1073,20 @@
 
 void PanelView::themeChanged()
 {
-    KWindowEffects::enableBlurBehind(winId(), true);
-    KWindowEffects::enableBackgroundContrast(winId(), m_theme.backgroundContrastEnabled(),
-                                                      m_theme.backgroundContrast(),
-                                                      m_theme.backgroundIntensity(),
-                                                      m_theme.backgroundSaturation());
+    if (m_effects) {
+        KWindowEffects::enableBlurBehind(winId(), true);
+        KWindowEffects::enableBackgroundContrast(winId(), m_theme.backgroundContrastEnabled(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundContrast(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundIntensity(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundSaturation());
+    } else {
+        KWindowEffects::enableBlurBehind(winId(), false);
+        KWindowEffects::enableBackgroundContrast(winId(), false,
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundContrast(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundIntensity(),
+                                                        m_theme.backgroundSaturation());        
+    }
+    
 
     updateMask();
 }