diff --git a/packages/widgets/src/docklayout.ts b/packages/widgets/src/docklayout.ts
index 6d96c9950..c35e51d78 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/src/docklayout.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/src/docklayout.ts
@@ -852,18 +852,21 @@ export class DockLayout extends Layout {
 
     // Using transform create an additional layer in the pixel pipeline
     // to limit the number of layer, it is set only if there is more than one widget.
-    if (
-      this._hiddenMode === Widget.HiddenMode.Scale &&
-      refNode.tabBar.titles.length > 0
-    ) {
-      if (refNode.tabBar.titles.length == 1) {
+    if (this._hiddenMode === Widget.HiddenMode.Scale) {
+      if (refNode.tabBar.titles.length === 0) {
+        // Singular tab should use display mode to limit number of layers.
+        widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Display;
+      } else if (refNode.tabBar.titles.length == 1) {
+        // If we are adding a second tab, switch the existing tab back to scale.
         const existingWidget = refNode.tabBar.titles[0].owner;
         existingWidget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Scale;
+      } else {
+        // For the third and subsequent tabs no special action is needed.
+        widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Scale;
       }
-
-      widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Scale;
     } else {
-      widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Display;
+      // For all other modes just propagate the current mode.
+      widget.hiddenMode = this._hiddenMode;
     }
 
     // Insert the widget's tab relative to the target index.
diff --git a/packages/widgets/src/widget.ts b/packages/widgets/src/widget.ts
index f07d73e24..f2ae230c4 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/src/widget.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/src/widget.ts
@@ -183,30 +183,23 @@ export class Widget implements IMessageHandler, IObservableDisposable {
     if (this._hiddenMode === value) {
       return;
     }
-    this._hiddenMode = value;
-    switch (value) {
-      case Widget.HiddenMode.Display:
-        this.node.style.willChange = 'auto';
-        break;
-      case Widget.HiddenMode.Scale:
-        this.node.style.willChange = 'transform';
-        break;
+
+    if (this.isHidden) {
+      // Reset styles set by previous mode.
+      this._toggleHidden(false);
     }
 
+    if (value == Widget.HiddenMode.Scale) {
+      this.node.style.willChange = 'transform';
+    } else {
+      this.node.style.willChange = 'auto';
+    }
+
+    this._hiddenMode = value;
+
     if (this.isHidden) {
-      if (value === Widget.HiddenMode.Display) {
-        this.addClass('lm-mod-hidden');
-        /* <DEPRECATED> */
-        this.addClass('p-mod-hidden');
-        /* </DEPRECATED> */
-        this.node.style.transform = '';
-      } else {
-        this.node.style.transform = 'scale(0)';
-        this.removeClass('lm-mod-hidden');
-        /* <DEPRECATED> */
-        this.removeClass('p-mod-hidden');
-        /* </DEPRECATED> */
-      }
+      // Set styles for new mode.
+      this._toggleHidden(true);
     }
   }
 
@@ -434,14 +427,7 @@ export class Widget implements IMessageHandler, IObservableDisposable {
     }
     this.clearFlag(Widget.Flag.IsHidden);
     this.node.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
-    if (this.hiddenMode === Widget.HiddenMode.Display) {
-      this.removeClass('lm-mod-hidden');
-      /* <DEPRECATED> */
-      this.removeClass('p-mod-hidden');
-      /* </DEPRECATED> */
-    } else {
-      this.node.style.transform = '';
-    }
+    this._toggleHidden(false);
 
     if (this.isAttached && (!this.parent || this.parent.isVisible)) {
       MessageLoop.sendMessage(this, Widget.Msg.AfterShow);
@@ -469,14 +455,7 @@ export class Widget implements IMessageHandler, IObservableDisposable {
     }
     this.setFlag(Widget.Flag.IsHidden);
     this.node.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
-    if (this.hiddenMode === Widget.HiddenMode.Display) {
-      this.addClass('lm-mod-hidden');
-      /* <DEPRECATED> */
-      this.addClass('p-mod-hidden');
-      /* </DEPRECATED> */
-    } else {
-      this.node.style.transform = 'scale(0)';
-    }
+    this._toggleHidden(true);
 
     if (this.isAttached && (!this.parent || this.parent.isVisible)) {
       MessageLoop.sendMessage(this, Widget.Msg.AfterHide);
@@ -759,6 +738,42 @@ export class Widget implements IMessageHandler, IObservableDisposable {
    */
   protected onChildRemoved(msg: Widget.ChildMessage): void {}
 
+  private _toggleHidden(hidden: boolean) {
+    if (hidden) {
+      switch (this._hiddenMode) {
+        case Widget.HiddenMode.Display:
+          this.addClass('lm-mod-hidden');
+          /* <DEPRECATED> */
+          this.addClass('p-mod-hidden');
+          /* </DEPRECATED> */
+          break;
+        case Widget.HiddenMode.Scale:
+          this.node.style.transform = 'scale(0)';
+          break;
+        case Widget.HiddenMode.ContentVisibility:
+          this.node.style.contentVisibility = 'hidden';
+          this.node.style.zIndex = '-1';
+          break;
+      }
+    } else {
+      switch (this._hiddenMode) {
+        case Widget.HiddenMode.Display:
+          this.removeClass('lm-mod-hidden');
+          /* <DEPRECATED> */
+          this.removeClass('p-mod-hidden');
+          /* </DEPRECATED> */
+          break;
+        case Widget.HiddenMode.Scale:
+          this.node.style.transform = '';
+          break;
+        case Widget.HiddenMode.ContentVisibility:
+          this.node.style.contentVisibility = '';
+          this.node.style.zIndex = '';
+          break;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   private _flags = 0;
   private _layout: Layout | null = null;
   private _parent: Widget | null = null;
@@ -819,7 +834,12 @@ export namespace Widget {
     /**
      * Hide the widget by setting the `transform` to `'scale(0)'`.
      */
-    Scale
+    Scale,
+
+    /**
+     *Hide the widget by setting the `content-visibility` to `'hidden'`.
+     */
+    ContentVisibility
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/widgets/tests/src/widget.spec.ts b/packages/widgets/tests/src/widget.spec.ts
index 82e6c750f..9bca55346 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/tests/src/widget.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/tests/src/widget.spec.ts
@@ -740,10 +740,38 @@ describe('@lumino/widgets', () => {
         widget.dispose();
       });
 
-      it('should add class when switching from scale to display', () => {
+      for (const fromMode of [
+        Widget.HiddenMode.Scale,
+        Widget.HiddenMode.ContentVisibility
+      ]) {
+        it(`should add class when switching from ${fromMode} to display`, () => {
+          let widget = new Widget();
+          Widget.attach(widget, document.body);
+          widget.hiddenMode = fromMode;
+          widget.hide();
+          widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Display;
+          expect(widget.hasClass('lm-mod-hidden')).to.equal(true);
+          expect(widget.node.style.transform).to.equal('');
+          expect(widget.node.style.willChange).to.equal('auto');
+          widget.dispose();
+        });
+      }
+
+      it('should use content-visibility in relevant mode', () => {
         let widget = new Widget();
         Widget.attach(widget, document.body);
-        widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Scale;
+        widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.ContentVisibility;
+        widget.hide();
+        expect(widget.hasClass('lm-mod-hidden')).to.equal(false);
+        expect(widget.node.style.contentVisibility).to.equal('hidden');
+        expect(widget.node.style.willChange).to.equal('auto');
+        widget.dispose();
+      });
+
+      it('should add class when switching from content-visibility to display', () => {
+        let widget = new Widget();
+        Widget.attach(widget, document.body);
+        widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.ContentVisibility;
         widget.hide();
         widget.hiddenMode = Widget.HiddenMode.Display;
         expect(widget.hasClass('lm-mod-hidden')).to.equal(true);
diff --git a/review/api/widgets.api.md b/review/api/widgets.api.md
index 07b9ca32f..b3a24ba48 100644
--- a/review/api/widgets.api.md
+++ b/review/api/widgets.api.md
@@ -1267,6 +1267,7 @@ export namespace Widget {
         IsVisible = 8
     }
     export enum HiddenMode {
+        ContentVisibility = 2,
         Display = 0,
         Scale = 1
     }