diff --git a/Changelog b/Changelog
index 9686f0ec..ea88c56e 100644
--- a/Changelog
+++ b/Changelog
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
  - X11: Fixed dragging a maximized floating window. Its size is now restored to normal size when the drag starts.
  - Added DockWidgetBase::currentTabIndex()
  - Added InitialVisibilityOption::PreserveCurrentTab
+ - Added MainWindow::internalLayout() for advanced customization
 
 * v1.5.0 (24 November 2021)
  - Install the Python bindings to "site-packages"
diff --git a/src/MainWindow.cpp b/src/MainWindow.cpp
index 8bae2e8d..01dc527c 100644
--- a/src/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -84,9 +84,7 @@ public:
     QMargins m_centerWidgetMargins = { 1, 5, 1, 1 };
 };
 
-MyCentralWidget::~MyCentralWidget()
-{
-}
+MyCentralWidget::~MyCentralWidget() = default;
 
 
 MainWindow::MainWindow(const QString &name, MainWindowOptions options,
@@ -172,3 +170,8 @@ void MainWindow::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *ev)
 {
     onCloseEvent(ev);
 }
+
+QHBoxLayout *MainWindow::internalLayout() const
+{
+    return d->m_layout;
+}
diff --git a/src/MainWindow.h b/src/MainWindow.h
index dd9c6f50..e96d46f8 100644
--- a/src/MainWindow.h
+++ b/src/MainWindow.h
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
 
 #include "MainWindowBase.h"
 
+QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
+class QHBoxLayout;
+QT_END_NAMESPACE
+
 namespace KDDockWidgets {
 
 class SideBar;
@@ -56,6 +60,11 @@ public:
     //@brief sets the margins for the contents widgets
     void setCenterWidgetMargins(const QMargins &margins);
 
+    ///@brief returns the internal layout
+    /// this is rarely needed unless you want to layout other widgets next to the
+    /// main dock widget layout
+    QHBoxLayout *internalLayout() const;
+
 protected:
     void closeEvent(QCloseEvent *) override;
     void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent *) override;