diff --git a/sandbox/will/basic.css b/sandbox/will/basic.css
index 76d2f689d..dedc7d161 100644
--- a/sandbox/will/basic.css
+++ b/sandbox/will/basic.css
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 App > Screen {
   layout: dock;
   docks: side=left/1;
-  background: $surfaceX;
+  background: $surface;
   color: $text-surface; 
 }
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ DataTable {
 }
 
 #sidebar .content {
-  background: $surface;
+  background: $panel-darken-2;
   color: $text-surface;
   border-right: wide $background;
   content-align: center middle;
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ Success {
   height:auto;  
   box-sizing: border-box;
   background: $success;
-  color: $text-success;  
+  color: $text-success-fade-1;  
   
   border-top: hkey $success-darken-2;
   border-bottom: hkey $success-darken-2; 
diff --git a/sandbox/will/dock.py b/sandbox/will/dock.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f9eaac67c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sandbox/will/dock.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+from textual.app import App, ComposeResult
+from textual.widgets import Static
+
+
+class DockApp(App):
+    def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
+
+        self.screen.styles.layers = "base sidebar"
+
+        header = Static("Header", id="header")
+        header.styles.dock = "top"
+        header.styles.height = "3"
+
+        header.styles.background = "blue"
+        header.styles.color = "white"
+        header.styles.margin = 0
+        header.styles.align_horizontal = "center"
+
+        # header.styles.layer = "base"
+
+        header.styles.box_sizing = "border-box"
+
+        yield header
+
+        footer = Static("Footer")
+        footer.styles.dock = "bottom"
+        footer.styles.height = 1
+        footer.styles.background = "green"
+        footer.styles.color = "white"
+
+        yield footer
+
+        sidebar = Static("Sidebar", id="sidebar")
+        sidebar.styles.dock = "right"
+        sidebar.styles.width = 20
+        sidebar.styles.height = "100%"
+        sidebar.styles.background = "magenta"
+        # sidebar.styles.layer = "sidebar"
+
+        yield sidebar
+
+        for n, color in zip(range(5), ["red", "green", "blue", "yellow", "magenta"]):
+            thing = Static(f"Thing {n}", id=f"#thing{n}")
+            thing.styles.background = f"{color} 20%"
+            thing.styles.height = 5
+            yield thing
+
+
+app = DockApp()
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    app.run()
diff --git a/sandbox/will/pred.py b/sandbox/will/pred.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..95f8cd50f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sandbox/will/pred.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+def partition_will(pred, values):
+    if not values:
+        return [], []
+    if len(values) == 1:
+        return ([], values) if pred(values[0]) else (values, [])
+    values = sorted(values, key=pred)
+    lower = 0
+    upper = len(values) - 1
+    index = (lower + upper) // 2
+    while True:
+        value = pred(values[index])
+        if value and not pred(values[index - 1]):
+            return values[:index], values[index:]
+        if value:
+            upper = index
+        else:
+            lower = index
+
+        index = (lower + upper) // 2
+
+
+def partition_more_iter(pred, iterable):
+    """
+    Returns a 2-tuple of iterables derived from the input iterable.
+    The first yields the items that have ``pred(item) == False``.
+    The second yields the items that have ``pred(item) == True``.
+
+        >>> is_odd = lambda x: x % 2 != 0
+        >>> iterable = range(10)
+        >>> even_items, odd_items = partition(is_odd, iterable)
+        >>> list(even_items), list(odd_items)
+        ([0, 2, 4, 6, 8], [1, 3, 5, 7, 9])
+
+    If *pred* is None, :func:`bool` is used.
+
+        >>> iterable = [0, 1, False, True, '', ' ']
+        >>> false_items, true_items = partition(None, iterable)
+        >>> list(false_items), list(true_items)
+        ([0, False, ''], [1, True, ' '])
+
+    """
+    if pred is None:
+        pred = bool
+
+    evaluations = ((pred(x), x) for x in iterable)
+    t1, t2 = tee(evaluations)
+    return (
+        (x for (cond, x) in t1 if not cond),
+        (x for (cond, x) in t2 if cond),
+    )
diff --git a/src/textual/_arrange.py b/src/textual/_arrange.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..537371912
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/textual/_arrange.py
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+
+from fractions import Fraction
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from .geometry import Region, Size, Spacing
+from ._layout import ArrangeResult, WidgetPlacement
+from ._partition import partition
+
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from ._layout import ArrangeResult
+    from .widget import Widget
+
+
+def arrange(widget: Widget, size: Size, viewport: Size) -> ArrangeResult:
+    display_children = [child for child in widget.children if child.display]
+
+    arrange_widgets: set[Widget] = set()
+
+    dock_layers: dict[str, list[Widget]] = {}
+    for child in display_children:
+        dock_layers.setdefault(child.styles.layer or "default", []).append(child)
+
+    width, height = size
+
+    placements: list[WidgetPlacement] = []
+    add_placement = placements.append
+    region = size.region
+
+    _WidgetPlacement = WidgetPlacement
+
+    top_z = 2**32 - 1
+
+    scroll_spacing = Spacing()
+
+    for widgets in dock_layers.values():
+
+        dock_widgets, layout_widgets = partition(
+            (lambda widget: not widget.styles.dock), widgets
+        )
+
+        arrange_widgets.update(dock_widgets)
+        top = right = bottom = left = 0
+
+        for dock_widget in dock_widgets:
+            edge = dock_widget.styles.dock
+
+            (
+                widget_width_fraction,
+                widget_height_fraction,
+                margin,
+            ) = dock_widget.get_box_model(
+                size,
+                viewport,
+                Fraction(size.height if edge in ("top", "bottom") else size.width),
+            )
+
+            widget_width = int(widget_width_fraction) + margin.width
+            widget_height = int(widget_height_fraction) + margin.height
+
+            align_offset = dock_widget.styles.align_size(
+                (widget_width, widget_height), size
+            )
+
+            if edge == "bottom":
+                dock_region = Region(
+                    0, height - widget_height, widget_width, widget_height
+                )
+                bottom = max(bottom, dock_region.height)
+            elif edge == "top":
+                dock_region = Region(0, 0, widget_width, widget_height)
+                top = max(top, dock_region.height)
+            elif edge == "left":
+                dock_region = Region(0, 0, widget_width, widget_height)
+                left = max(left, dock_region.width)
+            elif edge == "right":
+                dock_region = Region(
+                    width - widget_width, 0, widget_width, widget_height
+                )
+                right = max(right, dock_region.width)
+
+            dock_region = dock_region.shrink(margin).translate(align_offset)
+            add_placement(_WidgetPlacement(dock_region, dock_widget, top_z, True))
+
+        dock_spacing = Spacing(top, right, bottom, left)
+        region = size.region.shrink(dock_spacing)
+        layout_placements, _layout_widgets, spacing = widget.layout.arrange(
+            widget, layout_widgets, region.size
+        )
+        if _layout_widgets:
+            scroll_spacing = scroll_spacing.grow_maximum(dock_spacing)
+            arrange_widgets.update(_layout_widgets)
+            placement_offset = region.offset
+            if placement_offset:
+                layout_placements = [
+                    _WidgetPlacement(_region + placement_offset, widget, order, fixed)
+                    for _region, widget, order, fixed in layout_placements
+                ]
+
+        placements.extend(layout_placements)
+
+    result = ArrangeResult(placements, arrange_widgets, scroll_spacing)
+    return result
+
+    # dock_spacing = Spacing(top, right, bottom, left)
+    # region = region.shrink(dock_spacing)
+
+    # placements, placement_widgets, spacing = widget.layout.arrange(
+    #     widget, layout_widgets, region.size
+    # )
+    # dock_spacing += spacing
+
+    # placement_offset = region.offset
+    # if placement_offset:
+    #     placements = [
+    #         _WidgetPlacement(_region + placement_offset, widget, order, fixed)
+    #         for _region, widget, order, fixed in placements
+    #     ]
+
+    # return ArrangeResult(
+    #     (dock_placements + placements),
+    #     placement_widgets.union(layout_widgets),
+    #     dock_spacing,
+    # )
diff --git a/src/textual/_compositor.py b/src/textual/_compositor.py
index b44d83190..72b309d89 100644
--- a/src/textual/_compositor.py
+++ b/src/textual/_compositor.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from rich.segment import Segment
 from rich.style import Style
 
 from . import errors
-from .geometry import Region, Offset, Size
+from .geometry import Region, Offset, Size, Spacing
 
 from ._cells import cell_len
 from ._profile import timer
@@ -314,8 +314,7 @@ class Compositor:
             root (Widget): Top level widget.
 
         Returns:
-            map[dict[Widget, RenderRegion], Size]: A mapping of widget on to render region
-                and the "virtual size" (scrollable region)
+            tuple[CompositorMap, set[Widget]]: Compositor map and set of widgets.
         """
 
         ORIGIN = Offset(0, 0)
@@ -364,27 +363,43 @@ class Compositor:
 
                 if widget.is_container:
                     # Arrange the layout
-                    placements, arranged_widgets = widget._arrange(child_region.size)
+                    placements, arranged_widgets, spacing = widget._arrange(
+                        child_region.size
+                    )
                     widgets.update(arranged_widgets)
                     placements = sorted(placements, key=get_order)
 
                     # An offset added to all placements
-                    placement_offset = (
-                        container_region.offset + layout_offset - widget.scroll_offset
-                    )
+                    placement_offset = container_region.offset + layout_offset
+                    placement_scroll_offset = placement_offset - widget.scroll_offset
+
+                    _layers = widget.layers
+                    layers_to_index = {
+                        layer_name: index for index, layer_name in enumerate(_layers)
+                    }
+                    get_layer_index = layers_to_index.get
 
                     # Add all the widgets
-                    for sub_region, sub_widget, z in placements:
+                    for sub_region, sub_widget, z, fixed in placements:
                         # Combine regions with children to calculate the "virtual size"
-                        total_region = total_region.union(sub_region)
-                        if sub_widget is not None:
-                            add_widget(
-                                sub_widget,
-                                sub_region,
-                                sub_region + placement_offset,
-                                order + (z,),
-                                sub_clip,
-                            )
+                        if fixed:
+                            widget_region = sub_region + placement_offset
+                        else:
+                            total_region = total_region.union(sub_region.grow(spacing))
+                            widget_region = sub_region + placement_scroll_offset
+
+                        if sub_widget is None:
+                            continue
+
+                        widget_order = order + (get_layer_index(sub_widget.layer, 0), z)
+
+                        add_widget(
+                            sub_widget,
+                            sub_region,
+                            widget_region,
+                            widget_order,
+                            sub_clip,
+                        )
 
                 # Add any scrollbars
                 for chrome_widget, chrome_region in widget._arrange_scrollbars(
diff --git a/src/textual/_layout.py b/src/textual/_layout.py
index b4c98f0b3..b8e13d663 100644
--- a/src/textual/_layout.py
+++ b/src/textual/_layout.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import sys
 from typing import ClassVar, NamedTuple, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 
-from .geometry import Region, Size
+from .geometry import Region, Size, Spacing
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 10):
     from typing import TypeAlias
@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@ else:  # pragma: no cover
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .widget import Widget
 
-ArrangeResult: TypeAlias = "tuple[list[WidgetPlacement], set[Widget]]"
+
+class ArrangeResult(NamedTuple):
+    """The result of an arrange operation."""
+
+    placements: list[WidgetPlacement]
+    widgets: set[Widget]
+    spacing: Spacing = Spacing()
 
 
 class WidgetPlacement(NamedTuple):
@@ -25,6 +31,7 @@ class WidgetPlacement(NamedTuple):
     region: Region
     widget: Widget | None = None  # A widget of None means empty space
     order: int = 0
+    fixed: bool = False
 
 
 class Layout(ABC):
@@ -36,7 +43,9 @@ class Layout(ABC):
         return f"<{self.name}>"
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def arrange(self, parent: Widget, size: Size) -> ArrangeResult:
+    def arrange(
+        self, parent: Widget, children: list[Widget], size: Size
+    ) -> ArrangeResult:
         """Generate a layout map that defines where on the screen the widgets will be drawn.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/src/textual/_partition.py b/src/textual/_partition.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3469a3240
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/textual/_partition.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Callable, Iterable, TypeVar
+
+
+T = TypeVar("T")
+
+
+def partition(
+    pred: Callable[[T], bool], iterable: Iterable[T]
+) -> tuple[list[T], list[T]]:
+    """Partition a sequence in to two list from a given predicate. The first list will contain
+    the values where the predicate is False, the second list will contain the remaining values.
+
+    Args:
+        pred (Callable[[T], bool]): A callable that returns True or False for a given value.
+        iterable (Iterable[T]): In Iterable of values.
+
+    Returns:
+        tuple[list[T], list[T]]: A list of values where the predicate is False, and a list
+            where the predicate is True.
+    """
+
+    result: tuple[list[T], list[T]] = ([], [])
+    appends = (result[0].append, result[1].append)
+
+    for value in iterable:
+        appends[pred(value)](value)
+    return result
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    print(partition((lambda n: bool(n % 2)), list(range(20))))
diff --git a/src/textual/box_model.py b/src/textual/box_model.py
index 0acbfe134..3d7a9a6cd 100644
--- a/src/textual/box_model.py
+++ b/src/textual/box_model.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def get_box_model(
     else:
         # Explicit height set
         content_height = styles.height.resolve_dimension(
-            sizing_container, viewport, fraction_unit
+            sizing_container - styles.margin.totals, viewport, fraction_unit
         )
         if is_border_box:
             content_height -= gutter.height
diff --git a/src/textual/color.py b/src/textual/color.py
index 2647ba80b..813d6bcc6 100644
--- a/src/textual/color.py
+++ b/src/textual/color.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ from typing import Callable, NamedTuple
 
 import rich.repr
 from rich.color import Color as RichColor
+from rich.color import ColorType
+from rich.color_triplet import ColorTriplet
 from rich.style import Style
 from rich.text import Text
 
@@ -30,6 +32,9 @@ from ._color_constants import COLOR_NAME_TO_RGB
 from .geometry import clamp
 
 
+_TRUECOLOR = ColorType.TRUECOLOR
+
+
 class HLS(NamedTuple):
     """A color in HLS format."""
 
@@ -132,11 +137,10 @@ class Color(NamedTuple):
 
     def __rich__(self) -> Text:
         """A Rich method to show the color."""
-        r, g, b, _ = self
         return Text(
             f" {self!r} ",
             style=Style.from_color(
-                self.get_contrast_text().rich_color, RichColor.from_rgb(r, g, b)
+                self.get_contrast_text().rich_color, self.rich_color
             ),
         )
 
@@ -161,9 +165,10 @@ class Color(NamedTuple):
     @property
     def rich_color(self) -> RichColor:
         """This color encoded in Rich's Color class."""
-        # TODO: This isn't cheap as I'd like - cache in a LRUCache ?
         r, g, b, _a = self
-        return RichColor.from_rgb(r, g, b)
+        return RichColor(
+            f"#{r:02X}{g:02X}{b:02X}", _TRUECOLOR, None, ColorTriplet(r, g, b)
+        )
 
     @property
     def normalized(self) -> tuple[float, float, float]:
@@ -374,7 +379,7 @@ class Color(NamedTuple):
         Returns:
             Color: New color.
         """
-        return self.darken(-amount).clamped
+        return self.darken(-amount)
 
     @lru_cache(maxsize=1024)
     def get_contrast_text(self, alpha=0.95) -> Color:
diff --git a/src/textual/css/_help_text.py b/src/textual/css/_help_text.py
index 553b03231..220add7dc 100644
--- a/src/textual/css/_help_text.py
+++ b/src/textual/css/_help_text.py
@@ -503,31 +503,19 @@ def dock_property_help_text(property_name: str, context: StylingContext) -> Help
     return HelpText(
         summary=f"Invalid value for [i]{property_name}[/] property",
         bullets=[
-            Bullet("The value must be one of the defined docks"),
+            Bullet("The value must be one of 'top', 'right', 'bottom' or 'left'"),
             *ContextSpecificBullets(
                 inline=[
                     Bullet(
-                        "Attach a widget to a dock declared on the parent",
-                        examples=[
-                            Example(
-                                f'widget.styles.dock = "left"  [dim] # assumes parent widget has declared left dock[/]'
-                            )
-                        ],
+                        "The 'dock' rule aligns a widget relative to the screen.",
+                        examples=[Example(f'header.styles.dock = "top"')],
                     )
                 ],
                 css=[
                     Bullet(
-                        "Define a dock using the [i]docks[/] property",
-                        examples=[
-                            Example("docks: [u]lhs[/]=left/2;"),
-                        ],
-                    ),
-                    Bullet(
-                        "Then attach a widget to a defined dock using the [i]dock[/] property",
-                        examples=[
-                            Example("dock: [scope.key][u]lhs[/][/];"),
-                        ],
-                    ),
+                        "The 'dock' rule aligns a widget relative to the screen.",
+                        examples=[Example(f"dock: top")],
+                    )
                 ],
             ).get_by_context(context),
         ],
diff --git a/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py b/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py
index 101125bf8..2f285d52f 100644
--- a/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py
+++ b/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from .scalar import (
     Scalar,
     ScalarOffset,
     ScalarParseError,
+    percentage_string_to_float,
 )
 from .transition import Transition
 from ..geometry import Spacing, SpacingDimensions, clamp
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .._layout import Layout
     from .styles import DockGroup, Styles, StylesBase
 
-from .types import EdgeType, AlignHorizontal, AlignVertical
+from .types import DockEdge, EdgeType, AlignHorizontal, AlignVertical
 
 BorderDefinition = (
     "Sequence[tuple[EdgeType, str | Color] | None] | tuple[EdgeType, str | Color]"
@@ -533,7 +534,9 @@ class DockProperty:
     the docks themselves, and where they are located on screen.
     """
 
-    def __get__(self, obj: StylesBase, objtype: type[StylesBase] | None = None) -> str:
+    def __get__(
+        self, obj: StylesBase, objtype: type[StylesBase] | None = None
+    ) -> DockEdge:
         """Get the Dock property
 
         Args:
@@ -543,7 +546,7 @@ class DockProperty:
         Returns:
             str: The dock name as a string, or "" if the rule is not set.
         """
-        return obj.get_rule("dock", "_default")
+        return cast(DockEdge, obj.get_rule("dock", ""))
 
     def __set__(self, obj: Styles, dock_name: str | None):
         """Set the Dock property
@@ -839,15 +842,25 @@ class ColorProperty:
             if obj.set_rule(self.name, color):
                 obj.refresh(children=True)
         elif isinstance(color, str):
-            try:
-                parsed_color = Color.parse(color)
-            except ColorParseError as error:
-                raise StyleValueError(
-                    f"Invalid color value '{color}'",
-                    help_text=color_property_help_text(
-                        self.name, context="inline", error=error
-                    ),
-                )
+            alpha = 1.0
+            parsed_color = Color(255, 255, 255)
+            for token in color.split():
+                if token.endswith("%"):
+                    try:
+                        alpha = percentage_string_to_float(token)
+                    except ValueError:
+                        raise StyleValueError(f"invalid percentage value '{token}'")
+                    continue
+                try:
+                    parsed_color = Color.parse(token)
+                except ColorParseError as error:
+                    raise StyleValueError(
+                        f"Invalid color value '{token}'",
+                        help_text=color_property_help_text(
+                            self.name, context="inline", error=error
+                        ),
+                    )
+            parsed_color = parsed_color.with_alpha(alpha)
             if obj.set_rule(self.name, parsed_color):
                 obj.refresh(children=True)
         else:
diff --git a/src/textual/css/_styles_builder.py b/src/textual/css/_styles_builder.py
index b0d390573..ba4bb1e67 100644
--- a/src/textual/css/_styles_builder.py
+++ b/src/textual/css/_styles_builder.py
@@ -619,14 +619,18 @@ class StylesBuilder:
         self.styles.text_style = style_definition
 
     def process_dock(self, name: str, tokens: list[Token]) -> None:
+        if not tokens:
+            return
 
-        if len(tokens) > 1:
+        if len(tokens) > 1 or tokens[0].value not in VALID_EDGE:
             self.error(
                 name,
-                tokens[1],
+                tokens[0],
                 dock_property_help_text(name, context="css"),
             )
-        self.styles._rules["dock"] = tokens[0].value if tokens else ""
+
+        dock = tokens[0].value
+        self.styles._rules["dock"] = dock
 
     def process_docks(self, name: str, tokens: list[Token]) -> None:
         def docks_error(name, token):
diff --git a/src/textual/css/styles.py b/src/textual/css/styles.py
index 333f62d3c..7e21786bd 100644
--- a/src/textual/css/styles.py
+++ b/src/textual/css/styles.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from rich.style import Style
 
 from .._animator import Animation, EasingFunction
 from ..color import Color
-from ..geometry import Spacing
+from ..geometry import Size, Offset, Spacing
 from ._style_properties import (
     AlignProperty,
     BorderProperty,
@@ -436,6 +436,14 @@ class StylesBase(ABC):
                 offset_y = parent_height - height
         return offset_y
 
+    def align_size(self, child: tuple[int, int], parent: tuple[int, int]) -> Offset:
+        width, height = child
+        parent_width, parent_height = parent
+        return Offset(
+            self.align_width(width, parent_width),
+            self.align_height(height, parent_height),
+        )
+
 
 @rich.repr.auto
 @dataclass
diff --git a/src/textual/css/types.py b/src/textual/css/types.py
index 206705276..d21fb0cb9 100644
--- a/src/textual/css/types.py
+++ b/src/textual/css/types.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ else:
 
 
 Edge = Literal["top", "right", "bottom", "left"]
+DockEdge = Literal["top", "right", "bottom", "left", ""]
 EdgeType = Literal[
     "",
     "ascii",
diff --git a/src/textual/dom.py b/src/textual/dom.py
index 8c8fdadee..3bda0e690 100644
--- a/src/textual/dom.py
+++ b/src/textual/dom.py
@@ -347,9 +347,8 @@ class DOMNode(MessagePump):
     def text_style(self) -> Style:
         """Get the text style object.
 
-        A widget's style is influenced by its parent. For instance if a widgets background has an alpha,
-        then its parent's background color will show through. Additionally, widgets will inherit their
-        parent's text style (i.e. bold, italic etc).
+        A widget's style is influenced by its parent. for instance if a parent is bold, then
+        the child will also be bold.
 
         Returns:
             Style: Rich Style object.
@@ -357,17 +356,18 @@ class DOMNode(MessagePump):
 
         # TODO: Feels like there may be opportunity for caching here.
 
-        style = Style()
-        for node in reversed(self.ancestors):
-            style += node.styles.text_style
+        style = sum(
+            [node.styles.text_style for node in reversed(self.ancestors)], start=Style()
+        )
         return style
 
     @property
     def rich_style(self) -> Style:
         """Get a Rich Style object for this DOMNode."""
-        (_, _), (background, color) = self.colors
-        style = Style.from_color(color.rich_color, background.rich_color)
-        style += self.text_style
+        _, (background, color) = self.colors
+        style = (
+            Style.from_color(color.rich_color, background.rich_color) + self.text_style
+        )
         return style
 
     @property
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ class DOMNode(MessagePump):
                 background += styles.background
             if styles.has_rule("color"):
                 base_color = color
-                color += styles.color
+                color = styles.color
         return (base_background, base_color), (background, color)
 
     @property
@@ -394,9 +394,9 @@ class DOMNode(MessagePump):
         """Get a list of Nodes by tracing ancestors all the way back to App."""
         nodes: list[DOMNode] = [self]
         add_node = nodes.append
-        node = self
+        node: DOMNode = self
         while True:
-            node = node.parent
+            node = node._parent
             if node is None:
                 break
             add_node(node)
diff --git a/src/textual/geometry.py b/src/textual/geometry.py
index 73498d8ee..620d2419b 100644
--- a/src/textual/geometry.py
+++ b/src/textual/geometry.py
@@ -883,5 +883,23 @@ class Spacing(NamedTuple):
             )
         return NotImplemented
 
+    def grow_maximum(self, other: Spacing) -> Spacing:
+        """Grow spacing with a maximum.
+
+        Args:
+            other (Spacing): Spacing object.
+
+        Returns:
+            Spacing: New spacing were the values are maximum of the two values.
+        """
+        top, right, bottom, left = self
+        other_top, other_right, other_bottom, other_left = other
+        return Spacing(
+            max(top, other_top),
+            max(right, other_right),
+            max(bottom, other_bottom),
+            max(left, other_left),
+        )
+
 
 NULL_OFFSET = Offset(0, 0)
diff --git a/src/textual/layouts/dock.py b/src/textual/layouts/dock.py
index e1ce2b7c2..5b39d477b 100644
--- a/src/textual/layouts/dock.py
+++ b/src/textual/layouts/dock.py
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import sys
 from collections import defaultdict
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from operator import attrgetter
-from typing import Iterable, TYPE_CHECKING, NamedTuple, Sequence
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, NamedTuple, Sequence
 
 from .._layout_resolve import layout_resolve
 from ..css.types import Edge
-from ..geometry import Offset, Region, Size
+from ..geometry import Region, Size
 from .._layout import ArrangeResult, Layout, WidgetPlacement
 from ..widget import Widget
 
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ class DockLayout(Layout):
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<DockLayout>"
 
-    def get_docks(self, parent: Widget) -> list[Dock]:
+    def get_docks(self, parent: Widget, children: list[Widget]) -> list[Dock]:
         groups: dict[str, list[Widget]] = defaultdict(list)
-        for child in parent.displayed_children:
+        for child in children:
             assert isinstance(child, Widget)
             groups[child.styles.dock].append(child)
         docks: list[Dock] = []
@@ -63,13 +63,15 @@ class DockLayout(Layout):
             append_dock(Dock(edge, groups[name], z))
         return docks
 
-    def arrange(self, parent: Widget, size: Size) -> ArrangeResult:
+    def arrange(
+        self, parent: Widget, children: list[Widget], size: Size
+    ) -> ArrangeResult:
 
         width, height = size
         layout_region = Region(0, 0, width, height)
         layers: dict[int, Region] = defaultdict(lambda: layout_region)
 
-        docks = self.get_docks(parent)
+        docks = self.get_docks(parent, children)
 
         def make_dock_options(widget: Widget, edge: Edge) -> DockOptions:
             styles = widget.styles
@@ -181,4 +183,4 @@ class DockLayout(Layout):
 
             layers[z] = region
 
-        return placements, arranged_widgets
+        return ArrangeResult(placements, arranged_widgets)
diff --git a/src/textual/layouts/horizontal.py b/src/textual/layouts/horizontal.py
index 251e93838..c2749b9ac 100644
--- a/src/textual/layouts/horizontal.py
+++ b/src/textual/layouts/horizontal.py
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ class HorizontalLayout(Layout):
 
     name = "horizontal"
 
-    def arrange(self, parent: Widget, size: Size) -> ArrangeResult:
+    def arrange(
+        self, parent: Widget, children: list[Widget], size: Size
+    ) -> ArrangeResult:
 
         placements: list[WidgetPlacement] = []
         add_placement = placements.append
@@ -24,7 +26,6 @@ class HorizontalLayout(Layout):
         x = max_width = max_height = Fraction(0)
         parent_size = parent.outer_size
 
-        children = list(parent.children)
         styles = [child.styles for child in children if child.styles.width is not None]
         total_fraction = sum(
             [int(style.width.value) for style in styles if style.width.is_fraction]
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ class HorizontalLayout(Layout):
 
         box_models = [
             widget.get_box_model(size, parent_size, fraction_unit)
-            for widget in cast("list[Widget]", parent.children)
+            for widget in cast("list[Widget]", children)
         ]
 
         margins = [
diff --git a/src/textual/layouts/vertical.py b/src/textual/layouts/vertical.py
index f8ed4f152..93f14ff24 100644
--- a/src/textual/layouts/vertical.py
+++ b/src/textual/layouts/vertical.py
@@ -15,14 +15,15 @@ class VerticalLayout(Layout):
 
     name = "vertical"
 
-    def arrange(self, parent: Widget, size: Size) -> ArrangeResult:
+    def arrange(
+        self, parent: Widget, children: list[Widget], size: Size
+    ) -> ArrangeResult:
 
         placements: list[WidgetPlacement] = []
         add_placement = placements.append
 
         parent_size = parent.outer_size
 
-        children = list(parent.children)
         styles = [child.styles for child in children if child.styles.height is not None]
         total_fraction = sum(
             [int(style.height.value) for style in styles if style.height.is_fraction]
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ class VerticalLayout(Layout):
 
         box_models = [
             widget.get_box_model(size, parent_size, fraction_unit)
-            for widget in parent.children
+            for widget in children
         ]
 
         margins = [
@@ -43,8 +44,7 @@ class VerticalLayout(Layout):
 
         y = Fraction(box_models[0].margin.top if box_models else 0)
 
-        displayed_children = cast("list[Widget]", parent.displayed_children)
-        for widget, box_model, margin in zip(displayed_children, box_models, margins):
+        for widget, box_model, margin in zip(children, box_models, margins):
             content_width, content_height, box_margin = box_model
             offset_x = (
                 widget.styles.align_width(
@@ -60,4 +60,4 @@ class VerticalLayout(Layout):
         total_region = Region(0, 0, size.width, int(y))
         add_placement(WidgetPlacement(total_region, None, 0))
 
-        return placements, set(displayed_children)
+        return ArrangeResult(placements, set(children))
diff --git a/src/textual/widget.py b/src/textual/widget.py
index 74ffa4884..e947b1171 100644
--- a/src/textual/widget.py
+++ b/src/textual/widget.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from typing import (
     Collection,
     Iterable,
     NamedTuple,
+    Tuple,
 )
 
 import rich.repr
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ from rich.text import Text
 
 from . import errors, events, messages
 from ._animator import BoundAnimator
-from ._border import Border
+from ._arrange import arrange
 from ._context import active_app
 from ._layout import ArrangeResult, Layout
 from ._segment_tools import line_crop
@@ -36,8 +37,6 @@ from .geometry import Offset, Region, Size, Spacing, clamp
 from .layouts.vertical import VerticalLayout
 from .message import Message
 from .reactive import Reactive, watch
-from .renderables.opacity import Opacity
-from .renderables.tint import Tint
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .app import App, ComposeResult
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ class Widget(DOMNode):
         self._content_width_cache: tuple[object, int] = (None, 0)
         self._content_height_cache: tuple[object, int] = (None, 0)
 
-        self._arrangement: ArrangeResult | None = None
+        self._arrangement: Tuple[ArrangeResult, Spacing] | None = None
         self._arrangement_cache_key: tuple[int, Size] = (-1, Size())
 
         self._styles_cache = StylesCache()
@@ -146,14 +145,17 @@ class Widget(DOMNode):
         Returns:
             ArrangeResult: Widget locations.
         """
+
         arrange_cache_key = (self.children._updates, size)
         if (
             self._arrangement is not None
             and arrange_cache_key == self._arrangement_cache_key
         ):
             return self._arrangement
-        self._arrangement = self.layout.arrange(self, size)
         self._arrangement_cache_key = (self.children._updates, size)
+
+        self._arrangement = arrange(self, size, self.screen.size)
+
         return self._arrangement
 
     def _clear_arrangement_cache(self) -> None:
@@ -542,6 +544,25 @@ class Widget(DOMNode):
         """
         return self.is_container
 
+    @property
+    def layer(self) -> str:
+        """Get the name of this widgets layer."""
+        return self.styles.layer or "default"
+
+    @property
+    def layers(self) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+        """Layers of from parent.
+
+        Returns:
+            tuple[str, ...]: Tuple of layer names.
+        """
+        for node in self.ancestors:
+            if not isinstance(node, Widget):
+                break
+            if node.styles.has_rule("layers"):
+                return node.styles.layers
+        return ("default",)
+
     def _set_dirty(self, *regions: Region) -> None:
         """Set the Widget as 'dirty' (requiring re-paint).
 
diff --git a/src/textual/widgets/_static.py b/src/textual/widgets/_static.py
index 0e4c9b76a..7d617e81f 100644
--- a/src/textual/widgets/_static.py
+++ b/src/textual/widgets/_static.py
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ from ..widget import Widget
 
 
 class Static(Widget):
+    CSS = """
+    Static {
+        height: auto;
+    }
+    """
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         renderable: RenderableType = "",