diff --git a/awesomerc b/awesomerc
index b42f7f48d..4c453c9c3 100644
--- a/awesomerc
+++ b/awesomerc
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ awesome:
     focus_border_color = "#008b8b";
     focus_bg_color = "#008b8b";
     focus_fg_color = "#ffffff";
+    opacity_unfocused = 100;
 
     # Available layouts
     layouts = (("[]=", "tile"),
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ awesome:
 
     # Number of master windows (used by tile layouts)
     nmaster = 2;
+    ncols = 1;
 
     # Resize hints
     resize_hints = true;
@@ -70,9 +72,11 @@ awesome:
             (("Mod4"), "k", "focusprev"),
             (("Mod4"), "h", "setmwfact", "-0.05"),
             (("Mod4"), "l", "setmwfact", "+0.05"),
+            (("Mod4", "Shift"), "h", "setnmaster", "+1"),
+            (("Mod4", "Shift"), "l", "setnmaster", "-1"),
+            (("Mod4", "Control"), "h", "setncols", "+1"),
+            (("Mod4", "Control"), "l", "setncols", "-1"),
             (("Mod4"), "Escape", "viewprevtags"),
-            (("Mod4", "Shift"), "h", "incnmaster", "+1"),
-            (("Mod4", "Shift"), "l", "incnmaster", "-1"),
             (("Mod4"), "m", "togglemax"),
             (("Mod4"), "t", "settrans", "-5"),
             (("Mod4", "Shift"), "t", "settrans", "+5"),
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index b28254c0e..55aa83103 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ static const NameFuncLink KeyfuncList[] = {
     /* layouts/tile.c */
     {"setmwfact", uicb_setmwfact},
     {"setnmaster", uicb_setnmaster},
+    {"setncols", uicb_setncols},
     /* awesome.c */
     {"quit", uicb_quit},
     {NULL, NULL}
@@ -335,6 +336,10 @@ parse_config(Display * disp, int scr, DC * drawcontext, awesome_config *awesomec
     i = config_lookup_int(&awesomelibconf, "awesome.nmaster");
     awesomeconf->nmaster = i ? i : 1;
 
+    /* ncols */
+    i = config_lookup_int(&awesomelibconf, "awesome.ncols");
+    awesomeconf->ncols = i ? i : 1;
+
     /* mwfact */
     f = config_lookup_float(&awesomelibconf, "awesome.mwfact");
     awesomeconf->mwfact = f ? f : 0.6;
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index 617605eb0..865b433d4 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ struct awesome_config
     int snap;
     /** Number of master windows */
     int nmaster;
+    /** Number of columns in tile layout */
+    int ncols;
     /** Transparency of unfocused clients */
     int opacity_unfocused;
     /** Respect resize hints */
diff --git a/layouts/tile.c b/layouts/tile.c
index e47340273..dfddb3037 100644
--- a/layouts/tile.c
+++ b/layouts/tile.c
@@ -32,9 +32,20 @@ extern Client *sel, *clients;
 
 /* static */
 
-static double mwfact = 0.6;
-static int nmaster = 2;
-static int ncols = 2;
+static double mwfact = -1;
+static int nmaster = -1;
+static int ncols = -1;
+
+static void
+init_static_var_layout(awesome_config *awesomeconf)
+{
+    if(mwfact == -1)
+        mwfact = awesomeconf->mwfact;
+    if(nmaster == -1)
+        nmaster = awesomeconf->nmaster;
+    if(ncols == -1)
+        ncols = awesomeconf->ncols;
+}
 
 void
 uicb_setnmaster(Display *disp,
@@ -47,8 +58,7 @@ uicb_setnmaster(Display *disp,
 
     if(!arg)
         nmaster = awesomeconf->nmaster;
-    else
-        if((nmaster = (int) compute_new_value_from_arg(arg, (double) nmaster)) < 0)
+    else if((nmaster = (int) compute_new_value_from_arg(arg, (double) nmaster)) < 0)
             nmaster = 0;
 
     if(sel)
@@ -57,6 +67,26 @@ uicb_setnmaster(Display *disp,
         drawstatus(disp, drawcontext, awesomeconf);
 }
 
+void
+uicb_setncols(Display *disp,
+              DC * drawcontext,
+              awesome_config *awesomeconf,
+              const char * arg)
+{
+    if(!IS_ARRANGE(tile) && !IS_ARRANGE(tileleft))
+        return;
+
+    if(!arg)
+        ncols = awesomeconf->ncols;
+    else if((ncols = (int) compute_new_value_from_arg(arg, (double) ncols)) < 1)
+            ncols = 1;
+
+    if(sel)
+        arrange(disp, drawcontext, awesomeconf);
+    else
+        drawstatus(disp, drawcontext, awesomeconf);
+}
+
 void
 uicb_setmwfact(Display *disp,
                 DC *drawcontext,
@@ -93,6 +123,7 @@ _tile(Display *disp, awesome_config *awesomeconf, const Bool right)
     ScreenInfo *screens_info = NULL;
     Client *c;
 
+    init_static_var_layout(awesomeconf);
     screens_info = get_screen_info(disp, awesomeconf->statusbar, &screen_numbers);
  
     for(n = 0, c = clients; c; c = c->next)
diff --git a/layouts/tile.h b/layouts/tile.h
index b9af4a297..138544bf4 100644
--- a/layouts/tile.h
+++ b/layouts/tile.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <config.h>
 
 void uicb_setnmaster(Display *, DC *, awesome_config *, const char *);        /* change number of master windows */
+void uicb_setncols(Display *, DC *, awesome_config *, const char *);
 void uicb_setmwfact(Display *, DC *, awesome_config *, const char *);        /* sets master width factor */
 void tile(Display *, awesome_config *);
 void tileleft(Display *, awesome_config *);