diff --git a/common/configopts.c b/common/configopts.c
index c894a7b52..baba8b8d9 100644
--- a/common/configopts.c
+++ b/common/configopts.c
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ cfg_opt_t widget_progressbar_data_opts[] =
     CFG_STR((char *) "fg_end", (char *) NULL, CFGF_NONE),
     CFG_STR((char *) "bg", (char *) NULL, CFGF_NONE),
     CFG_STR((char *) "bordercolor", (char *) NULL, CFGF_NONE),
+    CFG_BOOL((char *) "reverse", cfg_false, CFGF_NONE),
     CFG_AWESOME_END()
 };
 cfg_opt_t widget_progressbar_opts[] =
diff --git a/common/draw.c b/common/draw.c
index c5e749c71..d3b539c65 100644
--- a/common/draw.c
+++ b/common/draw.c
@@ -213,40 +213,47 @@ draw_text(DrawCtx *ctx,
 
 /** Setup color-source for cairo (gradient or mono)
  * \param ctx Draw context
- * \param x x-offset of widget
+ * \param x x-offset of pattern start
  * \param y y-offset of widget
- * \param width width in pixels
- * \param color color to use from 0%
+ * \param width pattern width
+ * \param color color to use at start (x)
  * \param pcolor_center color at 50% of width
- * \param pcolor_end color at 100% of width
+ * \param pcolor_end color at pattern start (x) + pattern width (width)
  * \return pat pattern or NULL; needs to get cairo_pattern_destroy()'ed;
  */
 static cairo_pattern_t *
 draw_setup_cairo_color_source(DrawCtx *ctx, int x, int y, int width,
-                         XColor color, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
+                         XColor *pcolor, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
 {
     cairo_pattern_t *pat = NULL;
 
-    if(pcolor_center || pcolor_end) /* draw a gradient */
+    /* no need for a real pattern on the next two: */
+    if(!pcolor_end && !pcolor_center)
+        cairo_set_source_rgb(ctx->cr, pcolor->red / 65535.0, pcolor->green / 65535.0, pcolor->blue / 65535.0);
+    else if(!pcolor && !pcolor_center)
+        cairo_set_source_rgb(ctx->cr, pcolor_end->red / 65535.0, pcolor_end->green / 65535.0, pcolor_end->blue / 65535.0);
+    else
     {
         pat = cairo_pattern_create_linear(x, y, x + width, y);
 
-        cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 0, color.red / 65535.0,
-                                         color.green / 65535.0, color.blue / 65535.0);
-        if(pcolor_center)
-            cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 0.5, pcolor_center->red / 65535.0,
-                                             pcolor_center->green / 65535.0, pcolor_center->blue / 65535.0);
+        /* use pcolor as pcolor_end (and vice versa) when one is not set */
+        if(pcolor)
+            cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 0, pcolor->red / 65535.0,
+                                             pcolor->green / 65535.0, pcolor->blue / 65535.0);
+        else
+            cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 0, pcolor_end->red / 65535.0,
+                                             pcolor_end->green / 65535.0, pcolor_end->blue / 65535.0);
         if(pcolor_end)
             cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 1, pcolor_end->red / 65535.0,
                                              pcolor_end->green / 65535.0, pcolor_end->blue / 65535.0);
         else
-            cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 1, color.red / 65535.0,
-                                             color.green / 65535.0, color.blue / 65535.0);
+            cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 1, pcolor->red / 65535.0,
+                                             pcolor->green / 65535.0, pcolor->blue / 65535.0);
+        if(pcolor_center)
+            cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgb(pat, 0.5, pcolor_center->red / 65535.0,
+                                             pcolor_center->green / 65535.0, pcolor_center->blue / 65535.0);
         cairo_set_source(ctx->cr, pat);
     }
-    else
-        cairo_set_source_rgb(ctx->cr, color.red / 65535.0, color.green / 65535.0, color.blue / 65535.0);
-
     return pat;
 }
 
@@ -276,23 +283,24 @@ draw_rectangle(DrawCtx *ctx, Area geometry, Bool filled, XColor color)
 /** Draw rectangle with gradient colors
  * \param ctx Draw context
  * \param geometry geometry
- * \param fullwidth width of full bar in pixels
  * \param filled filled rectangle?
- * \param color color to use from 0%
- * \param pcolor_center color at 50%
- * \param pcolor_end color at 100%
+ * \param pattern_start_x pattern start x coord
+ * \param pattern_width pattern width
+ * \param color color to use at start
+ * \param pcolor_center color at 50% of width
+ * \param pcolor_end color at pattern_start + pattern_width
  */
 void
-draw_rectangle_gradient(DrawCtx *ctx, Area geometry, int fullwidth, Bool filled,
-                        XColor color, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
+draw_rectangle_gradient(DrawCtx *ctx, Area geometry, Bool filled, int pattern_start_x, int pattern_width,
+                        XColor *pcolor, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
 {
     cairo_pattern_t *pat;
 
     cairo_set_antialias(ctx->cr, CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_NONE);
     cairo_set_line_width(ctx->cr, 1.0);
 
-    pat = draw_setup_cairo_color_source(ctx, geometry.x, geometry.y, fullwidth,
-                                        color, pcolor_center, pcolor_end);
+    pat = draw_setup_cairo_color_source(ctx, pattern_start_x, geometry.y, pattern_width,
+                                        pcolor, pcolor_center, pcolor_end);
 
     if(filled)
     {
@@ -329,17 +337,17 @@ draw_graph_setup(DrawCtx *ctx)
  * \param from array of starting-point offsets to draw a graph-lines
  * \param to array of end-point offsets to draw a graph-lines
  * \param cur_index current position in data-array (cycles around)
- * \param color color to use from 0%
- * \param pcolor_center color at 50%
- * \param pcolor_end color at 100%
+ * \param pcolor color at the left
+ * \param pcolor_center color in the center
+ * \param pcolor_end color at the right
  */
 void
 draw_graph(DrawCtx *ctx, int x, int y, int w, int *from, int *to, int cur_index,
-           XColor color, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
+           XColor *pcolor, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
 {
     int i;
     cairo_pattern_t *pat;
-    pat = draw_setup_cairo_color_source(ctx, x, y, w, color, pcolor_center, pcolor_end);
+    pat = draw_setup_cairo_color_source(ctx, x, y, w, pcolor, pcolor_center, pcolor_end);
 
     i = -1;
     while(++i < w)
@@ -365,19 +373,19 @@ draw_graph(DrawCtx *ctx, int x, int y, int w, int *from, int *to, int cur_index,
  * \param w width in pixels
  * \param to array of offsets to draw the line through...
  * \param cur_index current position in data-array (cycles around)
- * \param color color to use from 0%
- * \param pcolor_center color at 50%
- * \param pcolor_end color at 100%
+ * \param pcolor color at the left
+ * \param pcolor_center color in the center
+ * \param pcolor_end color at the right
  */
 void
 draw_graph_line(DrawCtx *ctx, int x, int y, int w, int *to, int cur_index,
-           XColor color, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
+           XColor *pcolor, XColor *pcolor_center, XColor *pcolor_end)
 {
     int i;
     int flag = 0; /* used to prevent drawing a line from 0 to 0 values */
     cairo_pattern_t *pat;
 
-    pat = draw_setup_cairo_color_source(ctx, x, y, w, color, pcolor_center, pcolor_end);
+    pat = draw_setup_cairo_color_source(ctx, x, y, w, pcolor, pcolor_center, pcolor_end);
 
     /* x-1 (on the border), paints *from* the last point (... not included itself) */
     /* makes sense when you assume there is already some line drawn to it. */
diff --git a/common/draw.h b/common/draw.h
index 6d27b1455..4fa152e9c 100644
--- a/common/draw.h
+++ b/common/draw.h
@@ -96,11 +96,11 @@ void draw_context_delete(DrawCtx *);
 
 void draw_text(DrawCtx *, Area, Alignment, int, XftFont *, char *, int, XColor fg, XColor bg);
 void draw_rectangle(DrawCtx *, Area, Bool, XColor);
-void draw_rectangle_gradient(DrawCtx *, Area, int, Bool, XColor, XColor *, XColor *);
+void draw_rectangle_gradient(DrawCtx *, Area, Bool, int, int, XColor *, XColor *, XColor *);
 
 void draw_graph_setup(DrawCtx *);
-void draw_graph(DrawCtx *, int, int, int, int *, int *, int, XColor, XColor *, XColor *);
-void draw_graph_line(DrawCtx *, int, int, int, int *, int, XColor, XColor *, XColor *);
+void draw_graph(DrawCtx *, int, int, int, int *, int *, int, XColor *, XColor *, XColor *);
+void draw_graph_line(DrawCtx *, int, int, int, int *, int, XColor *, XColor *, XColor *);
 void draw_circle(DrawCtx *, int, int, int, Bool, XColor);
 void draw_image(DrawCtx *, int, int, int, const char *);
 void draw_image_from_argb_data(DrawCtx *, int, int, int, int, int, unsigned char *);
diff --git a/widgets/graph.c b/widgets/graph.c
index f7d74f0f7..f3858367c 100644
--- a/widgets/graph.c
+++ b/widgets/graph.c
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ graph_draw(Widget *widget, DrawCtx *ctx, int offset,
         draw_graph(ctx,
                 left_offset + 2, margin_top + d->box_height + 1,
                 d->size, d->draw_from, d->draw_to, *(d->filltop_index[z]),
-                d->filltop_color[z], d->filltop_pcolor_center[z], d->filltop_pcolor_end[z]);
+                &(d->filltop_color[z]), d->filltop_pcolor_center[z], d->filltop_pcolor_end[z]);
     }
 
     /* draw style = bottom */
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ graph_draw(Widget *widget, DrawCtx *ctx, int offset,
         draw_graph(ctx,
                 left_offset + 2, margin_top + d->box_height + 1,
                 d->size, d->draw_from, d->fillbottom[z], *(d->fillbottom_index[z]),
-                d->fillbottom_color[z], d->fillbottom_pcolor_center[z], d->fillbottom_pcolor_end[z]);
+                &(d->fillbottom_color[z]), d->fillbottom_pcolor_center[z], d->fillbottom_pcolor_end[z]);
     }
 
     /* draw style = line */
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ graph_draw(Widget *widget, DrawCtx *ctx, int offset,
         draw_graph_line(ctx,
                 left_offset + 2, margin_top + d->box_height + 1,
                 d->size, d->drawline[z], *(d->drawline_index[z]),
-                d->drawline_color[z], d->drawline_pcolor_center[z], d->drawline_pcolor_end[z]);
+                &(d->drawline_color[z]), d->drawline_pcolor_center[z], d->drawline_pcolor_end[z]);
     }
 
     widget->area.width = d->width;
diff --git a/widgets/progressbar.c b/widgets/progressbar.c
index 67f2be9e2..74c4f4346 100644
--- a/widgets/progressbar.c
+++ b/widgets/progressbar.c
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ typedef struct
     int padding;
     /** Pixel between data_items (bars) */
     int gap;
+    /** reverse drawing */
+    Bool *reverse;
     /** Number of data_items (bars) */
     int data_items;
     /** Height 0-1, where 1 is height of statusbar */
@@ -83,7 +85,10 @@ progressbar_draw(Widget *widget, DrawCtx *ctx, int offset,
 
     for(i = 0; i < d->data_items; i++)
     {
-        pwidth = (int) d->percent[i] ? ((width - 2) * d->percent[i]) / 100 : 0;
+        if(d->reverse[i])
+            pwidth = (int)(((width - 2) * (100 - d->percent[i])) / 100);
+        else
+            pwidth = (int)(((width - 2) * d->percent[i]) / 100);
 
         rectangle.x = left_offset;
         rectangle.y = margin_top;
@@ -92,14 +97,17 @@ progressbar_draw(Widget *widget, DrawCtx *ctx, int offset,
 
         draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, False, d->bordercolor[i]);
 
-        if(pwidth > 0)
+        if(pwidth > 0) /* filled area */
         {
             rectangle.x = left_offset + 1;
             rectangle.y = margin_top + 1;
             rectangle.width = pwidth;
             rectangle.height = pb_height - 2;
-            draw_rectangle_gradient(ctx, rectangle, width - 2, True, d->fg[i],
-                                    d->pfg_center[i], d->pfg_end[i]);
+            if(d->reverse[i])
+                draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, True, d->bg[i]);
+            else
+                draw_rectangle_gradient(ctx, rectangle, True, left_offset + 1, width - 2,
+                                        &(d->fg[i]), d->pfg_center[i], d->pfg_end[i]);
         }
 
         if(width - 2 - pwidth > 0) /* not filled area */
@@ -108,7 +116,11 @@ progressbar_draw(Widget *widget, DrawCtx *ctx, int offset,
             rectangle.y = margin_top + 1;
             rectangle.width = width - 2 - pwidth;
             rectangle.height = pb_height - 2;
-            draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, True, d->bg[i]);
+            if(d->reverse[i])
+                draw_rectangle_gradient(ctx, rectangle, True, left_offset + 1, width - 2,
+                                        d->pfg_end[i], d->pfg_center[i], &(d->fg[i]));
+            else
+                draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, True, d->bg[i]);
         }
 
         margin_top += (pb_height + d->gap);
@@ -322,6 +334,7 @@ progressbar_new(Statusbar *statusbar, cfg_t *config)
     d->bg = p_new(XColor, d->data_items);
     d->bordercolor = p_new(XColor, d->data_items);
     d->percent = p_new(int, d->data_items);
+    d->reverse = p_new(Bool, d->data_items);
     d->data_title = p_new(char *, d->data_items);
 
     for(i = 0; i < d->data_items; i++)
@@ -330,6 +343,9 @@ progressbar_new(Statusbar *statusbar, cfg_t *config)
 
         d->data_title[i] = a_strdup(cfg_title(cfg));
 
+        if(!(d->reverse[i] = cfg_getbool(cfg, "reverse")))
+            d->reverse[i] = False;
+
         if((color = cfg_getstr(cfg, "fg")))
             draw_color_new(globalconf.display, phys_screen, color, &d->fg[i]);
         else