diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c14bf46..9fc1c55 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ Lightweight and quick file operations without being a full-blown file manager.
 { 
 	"chrisgrieser/nvim-genghis", 
 	dependencies = "stevearc/dressing.nvim"
-	cmd = "Genghis",
 },
 
 -- packer
@@ -55,6 +54,10 @@ The `setup` call is optional.
 ```lua
 -- default config
 require("genghis").setup {
+	backdrop = {
+		enabled = true,
+		blend = 50,
+	},
 	-- cli name, default is `trash` on Mac and Windows, and `gio trash` on Linux
 	trashCmd = "trash",
 }
diff --git a/lua/genghis/config.lua b/lua/genghis/config.lua
index e5ebf78..cec7bec 100644
--- a/lua/genghis/config.lua
+++ b/lua/genghis/config.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ local M = {}
 
 ---@class Genghis.config
 local defaultConfig = {
+	backdrop = {
+		enabled = true,
+		blend = 50,
+	},
+	-- cli name, default is `trash` on Mac and Windows, and `gio trash` on Linux
 	trashCmd = nil,
 }
 
diff --git a/lua/genghis/operations/file.lua b/lua/genghis/operations/file.lua
index 0a78d20..9ec1458 100644
--- a/lua/genghis/operations/file.lua
+++ b/lua/genghis/operations/file.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 local M = {}
 
+local backdrop = require("genghis.support.backdrop")
 local rename = require("genghis.support.lsp-rename")
 local u = require("genghis.support.utils")
 local osPathSep = package.config:sub(1, 1)
@@ -38,6 +39,13 @@ local function fileOp(op)
 		prefill = ""
 	end
 
+	-- backdrop
+	vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("FileType", {
+		group = vim.api.nvim_create_augroup("InputGenghisBackdrop", {}),
+		pattern = "DressingInput",
+		callback = function(ctx) backdrop.new(ctx.buf) end,
+	})
+
 	vim.ui.input({
 		prompt = promptStr,
 		default = prefill,
@@ -119,6 +127,8 @@ function M.duplicateFile() fileOp("duplicate") end
 function M.createNewFile() fileOp("new") end
 function M.moveSelectionToNewFile() fileOp("new-from-selection") end
 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 function M.moveToFolderInCwd()
 	local curFilePath = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(0)
 	local parentOfCurFile = vim.fs.dirname(curFilePath) .. osPathSep
@@ -148,6 +158,12 @@ function M.moveToFolderInCwd()
 	-- insert cwd at bottom, since modification of is likely due to subfolders
 	if cwd ~= parentOfCurFile then table.insert(foldersInCwd, cwd) end
 
+	local autocmd = vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("FileType", {
+		group = vim.api.nvim_create_augroup("SelectorGenghisBackdrop", {}),
+		pattern = { "DressingSelect", "TelescopePrompt" },
+		callback = function(ctx) backdrop.new(ctx.buf) end,
+	})
+
 	-- prompt user and move
 	local promptStr = "Choose Destination Folder"
 	if lspSupportsRenaming then promptStr = promptStr .. " (with updated imports)" end
@@ -156,6 +172,9 @@ function M.moveToFolderInCwd()
 		kind = "genghis.moveToFolderInCwd",
 		format_item = function(path) return path:sub(#cwd) end, -- only relative path
 	}, function(destination)
+		-- in case neither dressing nor telescope was used as selector-backend
+		vim.api.nvim_del_autocmd(autocmd)
+
 		if not destination then return end
 		local newFilePath = destination .. osPathSep .. filename
 
@@ -178,7 +197,5 @@ function M.moveToFolderInCwd()
 	end)
 end
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 return M
diff --git a/lua/genghis/support/backdrop.lua b/lua/genghis/support/backdrop.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5787ea1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/genghis/support/backdrop.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+local M = {}
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+local backdropName = "GenghisBackdrop"
+
+---@param referenceBuf number Reference buffer, when that buffer is closed, the backdrop will be closed too
+---@param referenceZindex? number zindex of the reference window, where the backdrop should be placed below
+function M.new(referenceBuf, referenceZindex)
+	local config = require("genghis.config").config
+	if not config.backdrop.enabled then return end
+	local blend = config.backdrop.blend
+	if not referenceZindex then referenceZindex = 10 end
+
+	local bufnr = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+	local winnr = vim.api.nvim_open_win(bufnr, false, {
+		relative = "editor",
+		row = 0,
+		col = 0,
+		width = vim.o.columns,
+		height = vim.o.lines,
+		focusable = false,
+		style = "minimal",
+		zindex = referenceZindex - 1, -- ensure it's below the reference window
+	})
+	vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, backdropName, { bg = "#000000", default = true })
+	vim.wo[winnr].winhighlight = "Normal:" .. backdropName
+	vim.wo[winnr].winblend = blend
+	vim.bo[bufnr].buftype = "nofile"
+	vim.bo[bufnr].filetype = backdropName
+
+	-- close backdrop when the reference buffer is closed
+	vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd({ "WinClosed", "BufLeave" }, {
+		group = vim.api.nvim_create_augroup(backdropName, { clear = true }),
+		once = true,
+		buffer = referenceBuf,
+		callback = function()
+			if vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(winnr) then vim.api.nvim_win_close(winnr, true) end
+			if vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(bufnr) then
+				vim.api.nvim_buf_delete(bufnr, { force = true })
+			end
+		end,
+	})
+end
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+return M