diff --git a/widgets/layout.cpp b/widgets/layout.cpp
index dc2bd63f3..32a0713bd 100644
--- a/widgets/layout.cpp
+++ b/widgets/layout.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ class Layout::Private
         Private(LayoutItem* parent)
             : margin(12.0),
               spacing(6.0),
-              parent(parent)
+              parent(parent),
+              animator(0)
         {
         }
 
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ class Layout::Private
         qreal spacing;
 
         LayoutItem *parent;
+        LayoutAnimator *animator;
 };
 
 
@@ -56,6 +58,22 @@ Layout::~Layout()
     delete d;
 }
 
+void Layout::update()
+{
+    // this will force an update
+    setGeometry( parent()->geometry() );
+}
+
+LayoutAnimator* Layout::animator() const
+{
+    return d->animator;
+}
+
+void Layout::setAnimator(LayoutAnimator* animator)
+{
+    d->animator = animator;
+}
+
 qreal Layout::margin() const
 {
 	return d->margin;
diff --git a/widgets/layout.h b/widgets/layout.h
index 6d6f120cf..9350e0e34 100644
--- a/widgets/layout.h
+++ b/widgets/layout.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 namespace Plasma
 {
 
+class LayoutAnimator;
+
 /**
  * Base class for Plasma Layout managers
  *
@@ -116,6 +118,21 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Layout : public LayoutItem
          */
 		virtual LayoutItem *takeAt(int i) = 0;
 
+        /**
+         * Returns the object controlling animation of changes
+         * in this layout or 0 if no animator has been set.
+         */
+        virtual LayoutAnimator* animator() const;
+
+        /** 
+         * Sets the object controlling animation of changes in this
+         * layout.
+         */
+        virtual void setAnimator( LayoutAnimator* animator );
+
+        /** Triggers an update of the layout. */ 
+        void update();
+       
 	private:
 		class Private;
 		Private *const d;