diff --git a/book/src/editor.md b/book/src/editor.md
index 7f1de68bb..8d0d34526 100644
--- a/book/src/editor.md
+++ b/book/src/editor.md
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ The `[editor.statusline]` key takes the following sub-keys:
 | `mode.normal` | The text shown in the `mode` element for normal mode | `"NOR"` |
 | `mode.insert` | The text shown in the `mode` element for insert mode | `"INS"` |
 | `mode.select` | The text shown in the `mode` element for select mode | `"SEL"` |
+| `merge-with-commandline` | If set, the command line and statusline will merge into a single line. Status text will replace the statusline briefly | `false` |
 | `diagnostics` | A list of severities which are displayed for the current buffer | `["warning", "error"]` |
 | `workspace-diagnostics` | A list of severities which are displayed for the workspace | `["warning", "error"]` |
 
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
index 82cad8386..91bd9e8ce 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
@@ -3728,6 +3728,11 @@ pub(super) fn command_mode(cx: &mut Context) {
             }
         },
     );
+    if cx.editor.config().statusline.merge_with_commandline {
+        // command line prompt has the same background as the statusline when
+        // the statusline and the command line are merged
+        prompt.background = Some(cx.editor.theme.get("ui.statusline"))
+    }
     prompt.doc_fn = Box::new(command_line_doc);
 
     // Calculate initial completion
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
index 9343d55d4..5f601beb4 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ impl EditorView {
         let mut context =
             statusline::RenderContext::new(editor, doc, view, is_focused, &self.spinners);
 
-        statusline::render(&mut context, statusline_area, surface);
+        statusline::render(&mut context, statusline_area, surface)
     }
 
     pub fn render_rulers(
@@ -1501,8 +1501,15 @@ impl Component for EditorView {
             _ => false,
         };
 
-        // -1 for commandline and -1 for bufferline
-        let mut editor_area = area.clip_bottom(1);
+        // If merge_with_commandline option is set, then status message renders on top of the statusline, in which case we will not show the statusline
+        // Otherwise, status message renders in a separate line, so we give it 1 line of vertical space
+        let mut editor_area = area.clip_bottom(if config.statusline.merge_with_commandline {
+            0
+        } else {
+            1
+        });
+
+        // Editor area decreases by 1, to give 1 line of vertical space for bufferline
         if use_bufferline {
             editor_area = editor_area.clip_top(1);
         }
@@ -1564,9 +1571,15 @@ impl Component for EditorView {
             } else {
                 0
             };
+            let y_offset = if config.statusline.merge_with_commandline {
+                // render macros and key sequences 1 line above
+                1
+            } else {
+                0
+            };
             surface.set_string(
                 area.x + area.width.saturating_sub(key_width + macro_width),
-                area.y + area.height.saturating_sub(1),
+                (area.y + area.height.saturating_sub(1)).saturating_sub(y_offset),
                 disp.get(disp.len().saturating_sub(key_width as usize)..)
                     .unwrap_or(&disp),
                 style,
@@ -1578,7 +1591,7 @@ impl Component for EditorView {
                     .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD);
                 surface.set_string(
                     area.x + area.width.saturating_sub(3),
-                    area.y + area.height.saturating_sub(1),
+                    (area.y + area.height.saturating_sub(1)).saturating_sub(y_offset),
                     &disp,
                     style,
                 );
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
index ff4ca1fcc..e35c242ae 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ pub struct Prompt {
     prompt: Cow<'static, str>,
     line: String,
     cursor: usize,
+    pub background: Option<helix_view::theme::Style>,
     // Fields used for Component callbacks and rendering:
     line_area: Rect,
     anchor: usize,
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ impl Prompt {
             selection: None,
             history_register,
             history_pos: None,
+            background: None,
             completion_fn: Box::new(completion_fn),
             callback_fn: Box::new(callback_fn),
             doc_fn: Box::new(|_| None),
@@ -407,7 +409,9 @@ impl Prompt {
         let completion_color = theme.get("ui.menu");
         let selected_color = theme.get("ui.menu.selected");
         let suggestion_color = theme.get("ui.text.inactive");
-        let background = theme.get("ui.background");
+        let background = self
+            .background
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| theme.get("ui.background"));
         // completion
 
         let max_len = self
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 57e130881..3645b09b7 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -510,6 +510,7 @@ pub struct StatusLineConfig {
     pub right: Vec<StatusLineElement>,
     pub separator: String,
     pub mode: ModeConfig,
+    pub merge_with_commandline: bool,
     pub diagnostics: Vec<Severity>,
     pub workspace_diagnostics: Vec<Severity>,
 }
@@ -536,6 +537,7 @@ impl Default for StatusLineConfig {
             ],
             separator: String::from("│"),
             mode: ModeConfig::default(),
+            merge_with_commandline: false,
             diagnostics: vec![Severity::Warning, Severity::Error],
             workspace_diagnostics: vec![Severity::Warning, Severity::Error],
         }