diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/canvas.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/canvas.kt
index 94ddcfba..d9a0fca1 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/canvas.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/canvas.kt
@@ -17,39 +17,6 @@ internal interface TextCanvas {
 	var translationY: Int
 
 	operator fun get(row: Int, column: Int): TextPixel
-
-	fun write(
-		row: Int,
-		column: Int,
-		string: String,
-		foreground: Color? = null,
-		background: Color? = null,
-		style: TextStyle? = null,
-	) {
-		var pixelIndex = 0
-		var characterColumn = column
-		while (pixelIndex < string.length) {
-			val character = this[row, characterColumn++]
-
-			val pixelEnd = if (string[pixelIndex].isHighSurrogate()) {
-				pixelIndex + 2
-			} else {
-				pixelIndex + 1
-			}
-			character.value = string.substring(pixelIndex, pixelEnd)
-			pixelIndex = pixelEnd
-
-			if (background != null) {
-				character.background = background
-			}
-			if (foreground != null) {
-				character.foreground = foreground
-			}
-			if (style != null) {
-				character.style = style
-			}
-		}
-	}
 }
 
 private val blankPixel = TextPixel(' ')
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/ContentDrawScope.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/ContentDrawScope.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3aeb03ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/ContentDrawScope.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout
+
+public interface ContentDrawScope : DrawScope {
+	public fun drawContent()
+}
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/DrawModifier.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/DrawModifier.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e0924518
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/DrawModifier.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout
+
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
+
+public interface DrawModifier : Modifier.Element {
+	public fun ContentDrawScope.draw()
+}
+
+public fun Modifier.drawBehind(
+	onDraw: DrawScope.() -> Unit
+): Modifier = this then DrawBehindElement(onDraw)
+
+private class DrawBehindElement(
+	val onDraw: DrawScope.() -> Unit
+): DrawModifier {
+	override fun ContentDrawScope.draw() {
+		onDraw()
+		drawContent()
+	}
+
+	override fun toString() = "DrawBehind"
+}
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/DrawScope.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/DrawScope.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..301ce2fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/DrawScope.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout
+
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.TextCanvas
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.Color
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.TextStyle
+
+public interface DrawScope {
+	public fun write(
+		row: Int,
+		column: Int,
+		string: String,
+		foreground: Color? = null,
+		background: Color? = null,
+		style: TextStyle? = null,
+	)
+}
+
+internal open class TextCanvasDrawScope(
+	private val canvas: TextCanvas,
+): DrawScope {
+	override fun write(
+		row: Int,
+		column: Int,
+		string: String,
+		foreground: Color?,
+		background: Color?,
+		style: TextStyle?,
+	) {
+		var pixelIndex = 0
+		var characterColumn = column
+		while (pixelIndex < string.length) {
+			val character = canvas[row, characterColumn++]
+
+			val pixelEnd = if (string[pixelIndex].isHighSurrogate()) {
+				pixelIndex + 2
+			} else {
+				pixelIndex + 1
+			}
+			character.value = string.substring(pixelIndex, pixelEnd)
+			pixelIndex = pixelEnd
+
+			if (background != null) {
+				character.background = background
+			}
+			if (foreground != null) {
+				character.foreground = foreground
+			}
+			if (style != null) {
+				character.style = style
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/LayoutModifier.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/LayoutModifier.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..84ddfead
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/LayoutModifier.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout
+
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
+
+/**
+ * A [Modifier.Element] that changes how its wrapped content is measured and laid out.
+ * It has the same measurement and layout functionality as the [com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.Layout]
+ * component, while wrapping exactly one layout due to it being a modifier. In contrast,
+ * the [com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.Layout] component is used to define the layout behavior of
+ * multiple children.
+ *
+ * @see com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.Layout
+ */
+public interface LayoutModifier : Modifier.Element {
+	/**
+	 * The function used to measure the modifier. The [measurable] corresponds to the
+	 * wrapped content, and it can be measured with the desired constraints according
+	 * to the logic of the [LayoutModifier]. The modifier needs to choose its own
+	 * size, which can depend on the size chosen by the wrapped content (the obtained
+	 * [Placeable]), if the wrapped content was measured. The size needs to be returned
+	 * as part of a [MeasureResult], alongside the placement logic of the
+	 * [Placeable], which defines how the wrapped content should be positioned inside
+	 * the [LayoutModifier]. A convenient way to create the [MeasureResult]
+	 * is to use the [MeasureScope.layout] factory function.
+	 *
+	 * A [LayoutModifier] uses the same measurement and layout concepts and principles as a
+	 * [Layout], the only difference is that they apply to exactly one child. For a more detailed
+	 * explanation of measurement and layout, see [MeasurePolicy].
+	 */
+	public fun MeasureScope.measure(
+		measurable: Measurable,
+	): MeasureResult
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates a [LayoutModifier] that allows changing how the wrapped element is measured and laid out.
+ *
+ * This is a convenience API of creating a custom [LayoutModifier] modifier, without having to
+ * create a class or an object that implements the [LayoutModifier] interface. The intrinsic
+ * measurements follow the default logic provided by the [LayoutModifier].
+ *
+ * @see com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.LayoutModifier
+ */
+public fun Modifier.layout(
+	measure: MeasureScope.(Measurable) -> MeasureResult
+): Modifier = this then LayoutModifierElement(measure)
+
+private class LayoutModifierElement(
+	var measureBlock: MeasureScope.(Measurable) -> MeasureResult
+) : LayoutModifier {
+	override fun MeasureScope.measure(
+		measurable: Measurable,
+	) = measureBlock(measurable)
+
+	override fun toString(): String {
+		return "LayoutModifierImpl(measureBlock=$measureBlock)"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/Node.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/Node.kt
index 1d67298a..cd00e47a 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/Node.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/Node.kt
@@ -3,10 +3,7 @@ package com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.TextCanvas
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.TextSurface
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.Placeable.PlacementScope
-
-internal fun interface DrawPolicy {
-	fun performDraw(canvas: TextCanvas)
-}
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
 
 internal fun interface StaticPaintPolicy {
 	fun MosaicNode.performPaintStatics(statics: MutableList<TextSurface>)
@@ -24,25 +21,33 @@ internal fun interface DebugPolicy {
 	fun MosaicNode.renderDebug(): String
 }
 
-internal abstract class MosaicNodeLayer : Placeable(), PlacementScope, MeasureScope {
-	abstract fun measure(): MeasureResult
+internal abstract class MosaicNodeLayer : Measurable, Placeable(), PlacementScope, MeasureScope {
 	abstract fun drawTo(canvas: TextCanvas)
 }
 
 internal abstract class AbstractMosaicNodeLayer(
 	private val next: MosaicNodeLayer?,
+	private val isStatic: Boolean,
 ) : MosaicNodeLayer() {
 	private var measureResult: MeasureResult = NotMeasured
 
 	final override val width get() = measureResult.width
 	final override val height get() = measureResult.height
 
-	final override fun measure(): MeasureResult {
-		return doMeasure().also { measureResult = it }
+	override fun measure() = apply {
+		measureResult = doMeasure()
 	}
 
-	open fun doMeasure(): MeasureResult {
-		return checkNotNull(next).measure()
+	protected open fun doMeasure(): MeasureResult {
+		val placeable = next!!.measure()
+		return object : MeasureResult {
+			override val width: Int get() = placeable.width
+			override val height: Int get() = placeable.height
+
+			override fun placeChildren() {
+				placeable.place(0, 0)
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	final override var x = 0
@@ -51,17 +56,19 @@ internal abstract class AbstractMosaicNodeLayer(
 		private set
 
 	final override fun placeAt(x: Int, y: Int) {
-		this.x = x
-		this.y = y
+		// If this layer belongs to a static node, ignore the placement coordinates from the parent.
+		// We reset the coordinate system to draw at 0,0 since static drawing will be on a canvas
+		// sized to this node's width and height.
+		if (!isStatic) {
+			this.x = x
+			this.y = y
+		}
 		measureResult.placeChildren()
 	}
 
-	final override fun drawTo(canvas: TextCanvas) {
-		drawLayer(canvas)
+	override fun drawTo(canvas: TextCanvas) {
 		next?.drawTo(canvas)
 	}
-
-	open fun drawLayer(canvas: TextCanvas) {}
 }
 
 internal object NotMeasured : MeasureResult {
@@ -73,17 +80,17 @@ internal object NotMeasured : MeasureResult {
 internal class MosaicNode(
 	var measurePolicy: MeasurePolicy,
 	var staticPaintPolicy: StaticPaintPolicy?,
-	drawPolicy: DrawPolicy?,
 	var debugPolicy: DebugPolicy,
+	val isStatic: Boolean,
 ) : Measurable {
 	val children = mutableListOf<MosaicNode>()
 
-	private val bottomLayer: MosaicNodeLayer = object : AbstractMosaicNodeLayer(null) {
+	private val bottomLayer: MosaicNodeLayer = object : AbstractMosaicNodeLayer(null, isStatic) {
 		override fun doMeasure(): MeasureResult {
 			return measurePolicy.run { measure(children) }
 		}
 
-		override fun drawLayer(canvas: TextCanvas) {
+		override fun drawTo(canvas: TextCanvas) {
 			for (child in children) {
 				if (child.width != 0 && child.height != 0) {
 					child.topLayer.drawTo(canvas)
@@ -94,19 +101,36 @@ internal class MosaicNode(
 
 	private var topLayer = bottomLayer
 
-	var drawPolicy: DrawPolicy? = drawPolicy
+	var modifiers: Modifier = Modifier
 		set(value) {
-			topLayer = if (value == null) {
-				bottomLayer
-			} else {
-				object : AbstractMosaicNodeLayer(bottomLayer) {
-					override fun drawLayer(canvas: TextCanvas) {
-						canvas.translationX += x
-						canvas.translationY += y
-						value.performDraw(canvas)
-						canvas.translationX -= x
-						canvas.translationY -= y
+			topLayer = value.foldOut(bottomLayer) { element, lowerLayer ->
+				when (element) {
+					is LayoutModifier -> {
+						object : AbstractMosaicNodeLayer(lowerLayer, false) {
+							override fun doMeasure(): MeasureResult {
+								return element.run { measure(lowerLayer) }
+							}
+						}
 					}
+
+					is DrawModifier -> {
+						object : AbstractMosaicNodeLayer(lowerLayer, false) {
+							override fun drawTo(canvas: TextCanvas) {
+								canvas.translationX += x
+								canvas.translationY += y
+								val scope = object : TextCanvasDrawScope(canvas), ContentDrawScope {
+									override fun drawContent() {
+										lowerLayer.drawTo(canvas)
+									}
+								}
+								element.run { scope.draw() }
+								canvas.translationX -= x
+								canvas.translationY -= y
+							}
+						}
+					}
+
+					else -> lowerLayer
 				}
 			}
 			field = value
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/Padding.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/Padding.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8c35c722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/layout/Padding.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout
+
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Stable
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
+
+@Stable
+public fun Modifier.padding(
+	left: Int = 0,
+	top: Int = 0,
+	right: Int = 0,
+	bottom: Int = 0,
+): Modifier = this.then(
+	PaddingModifier(
+		left = left,
+		top = top,
+		right = right,
+		bottom = bottom,
+	)
+)
+
+@Stable
+public fun Modifier.padding(
+	horizontal: Int = 0,
+	vertical: Int = 0,
+): Modifier = this.then(
+	PaddingModifier(
+		left = horizontal,
+		top = vertical,
+		right = horizontal,
+		bottom = vertical,
+	)
+)
+
+@Stable
+public fun Modifier.padding(all: Int): Modifier =
+	this.then(
+		PaddingModifier(
+			left = all,
+			top = all,
+			right = all,
+			bottom = all,
+		)
+	)
+
+private class PaddingModifier(
+	val left: Int = 0,
+	val top: Int = 0,
+	val right: Int = 0,
+	val bottom: Int = 0,
+) : LayoutModifier {
+	init {
+		require(left >= 0 && top >= 0f && right >= 0f && bottom >= 0f) {
+			"Padding must be non-negative"
+		}
+	}
+
+	override fun MeasureScope.measure(measurable: Measurable): MeasureResult {
+		val horizontal = left + right
+		val vertical = top + bottom
+
+		val placeable = measurable.measure()
+
+		val width = placeable.width + horizontal
+		val height = placeable.height + vertical
+		return layout(width, height) {
+			placeable.place(left, top)
+		}
+	}
+
+	override fun hashCode(): Int {
+		var result = left
+		result = 31 * result + top
+		result = 31 * result + right
+		result = 31 * result + bottom
+		return result
+	}
+
+	override fun equals(other: Any?): Boolean {
+		return other is PaddingModifier &&
+			left == other.left &&
+			top == other.top &&
+			right == other.right &&
+			bottom == other.bottom
+	}
+
+	override fun toString() = when {
+		left == right && left == top && left == bottom -> "Padding($left)"
+		left == right && top == bottom -> "Padding(h=$left, v=$top)"
+		else -> "Padding(l=$left, t=$top, r=$right, b=$bottom)"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/modifier/modifier.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/modifier/modifier.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..89401df6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/modifier/modifier.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier
+
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Stable
+
+/**
+ * An ordered, immutable collection of [modifier elements][Modifier.Element] that decorate or add
+ * behavior to Mosaic elements. For example, backgrounds, padding, and click event listeners
+ * decorate or add behavior to rows, text, or buttons.
+ *
+ * Modifier implementations should offer a fluent factory extension function on [Modifier] for
+ * creating combined modifiers by starting from existing modifiers:
+ *
+ * Modifier elements may be combined using [then]. Order is significant; modifier elements that
+ * appear first will be applied first.
+ *
+ * Composables that accept a [Modifier] as a parameter to be applied to the whole component
+ * represented by the composable function should name the parameter `modifier` and
+ * assign the parameter a default value of [Modifier]. It should appear as the first
+ * optional parameter in the parameter list; after all required parameters (except for trailing
+ * lambda parameters) but before any other parameters with default values. Any default modifiers
+ * desired by a composable function should come after the `modifier` parameter's value in the
+ * composable function's implementation, keeping [Modifier] as the default parameter value.
+ *
+ * The pattern above allows default modifiers to still be applied as part of the chain
+ * if a caller also supplies unrelated modifiers.
+ *
+ * Composables that accept modifiers to be applied to a specific subcomponent `foo`
+ * should name the parameter `fooModifier` and follow the same guidelines above for default values
+ * and behavior. Subcomponent modifiers should be grouped together and follow the parent
+ * composable's modifier.
+ */
+@Stable
+public interface Modifier {
+
+	/**
+	 * Accumulates a value starting with [initial] and applying [operation] to the current value
+	 * and each element from outside in.
+	 *
+	 * Elements wrap one another in a chain from left to right; an [Element] that appears to the
+	 * left of another in a `+` expression or in [operation]'s parameter order affects all
+	 * of the elements that appear after it. [foldIn] may be used to accumulate a value starting
+	 * from the parent or head of the modifier chain to the final wrapped child.
+	 */
+	public fun <R> foldIn(initial: R, operation: (R, Element) -> R): R
+
+	/**
+	 * Accumulates a value starting with [initial] and applying [operation] to the current value
+	 * and each element from inside out.
+	 *
+	 * Elements wrap one another in a chain from left to right; an [Element] that appears to the
+	 * left of another in a `+` expression or in [operation]'s parameter order affects all
+	 * of the elements that appear after it. [foldOut] may be used to accumulate a value starting
+	 * from the child or tail of the modifier chain up to the parent or head of the chain.
+	 */
+	public fun <R> foldOut(initial: R, operation: (Element, R) -> R): R
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns `true` if [predicate] returns true for any [Element] in this [Modifier].
+	 */
+	public fun any(predicate: (Element) -> Boolean): Boolean
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns `true` if [predicate] returns true for all [Element]s in this [Modifier] or if
+	 * this [Modifier] contains no [Element]s.
+	 */
+	public fun all(predicate: (Element) -> Boolean): Boolean
+
+	/**
+	 * Concatenates this modifier with another.
+	 *
+	 * Returns a [Modifier] representing this modifier followed by [other] in sequence.
+	 */
+	public infix fun then(other: Modifier): Modifier =
+		if (other === Modifier) this else CombinedModifier(this, other)
+
+	/**
+	 * A single element contained within a [Modifier] chain.
+	 */
+	public interface Element : Modifier {
+		override fun <R> foldIn(initial: R, operation: (R, Element) -> R): R =
+			operation(initial, this)
+
+		override fun <R> foldOut(initial: R, operation: (Element, R) -> R): R =
+			operation(this, initial)
+
+		override fun any(predicate: (Element) -> Boolean): Boolean = predicate(this)
+
+		override fun all(predicate: (Element) -> Boolean): Boolean = predicate(this)
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * The companion object `Modifier` is the empty, default, or starter [Modifier]
+	 * that contains no [elements][Element]. Use it to create a new [Modifier] using
+	 * modifier extension factory functions or as the default value for [Modifier] parameters.
+	 */
+	// The companion object implements `Modifier` so that it may be used as the start of a
+	// modifier extension factory expression.
+	public companion object : Modifier {
+		override fun <R> foldIn(initial: R, operation: (R, Element) -> R): R = initial
+		override fun <R> foldOut(initial: R, operation: (Element, R) -> R): R = initial
+		override fun any(predicate: (Element) -> Boolean): Boolean = false
+		override fun all(predicate: (Element) -> Boolean): Boolean = true
+		override infix fun then(other: Modifier): Modifier = other
+		override fun toString(): String = "Modifier"
+	}
+}
+
+/**
+ * A node in a [Modifier] chain. A CombinedModifier always contains at least two elements;
+ * a Modifier [outer] that wraps around the Modifier [inner].
+ */
+public class CombinedModifier(
+	internal val outer: Modifier,
+	internal val inner: Modifier
+) : Modifier {
+	override fun <R> foldIn(initial: R, operation: (R, Modifier.Element) -> R): R =
+		inner.foldIn(outer.foldIn(initial, operation), operation)
+
+	override fun <R> foldOut(initial: R, operation: (Modifier.Element, R) -> R): R =
+		outer.foldOut(inner.foldOut(initial, operation), operation)
+
+	override fun any(predicate: (Modifier.Element) -> Boolean): Boolean =
+		outer.any(predicate) || inner.any(predicate)
+
+	override fun all(predicate: (Modifier.Element) -> Boolean): Boolean =
+		outer.all(predicate) && inner.all(predicate)
+
+	override fun equals(other: Any?): Boolean =
+		other is CombinedModifier && outer == other.outer && inner == other.inner
+
+	override fun hashCode(): Int = outer.hashCode() + 31 * inner.hashCode()
+
+	override fun toString(): String = "[" + foldIn("") { acc, element ->
+		if (acc.isEmpty()) element.toString() else "$acc, $element"
+	} + "]"
+}
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/mosaic.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/mosaic.kt
index 00dea670..ac91ce8c 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/mosaic.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/mosaic.kt
@@ -157,11 +157,11 @@ internal fun createRootNode(): MosaicNode {
 				}
 			}
 		},
-		drawPolicy = null,
 		staticPaintPolicy = StaticPaintPolicy.Children,
 		debugPolicy = {
 			children.joinToString(separator = "\n")
-		}
+		},
+		isStatic = false,
 	)
 }
 
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Column.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Column.kt
index dcacd65f..4b2a1302 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Column.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Column.kt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import kotlin.jvm.JvmName
 
 @Composable
 public fun Column(content: @Composable () -> Unit) {
-	Layout(content, { "Column()" }) { measurables ->
+	Layout(content, debugInfo = { "Column()" }) { measurables ->
 		var width = 0
 		var height = 0
 		val placeables = measurables.map { measurable ->
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Layout.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Layout.kt
index 55ca8a98..38f6f159 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Layout.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Layout.kt
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 package com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui
 
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
-import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.DrawPolicy
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.Measurable
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.MeasurePolicy
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.MeasureResult
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.MeasureScope
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.StaticPaintPolicy
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
 import kotlin.jvm.JvmName
 
 internal fun interface NoContentMeasurePolicy {
@@ -35,15 +35,16 @@ internal sealed class NoContentMeasureScope {
 
 @Composable
 internal fun Layout(
+	modifiers: Modifier = Modifier,
 	debugInfo: () -> String = { "Layout()" },
-	drawPolicy: DrawPolicy,
 	measurePolicy: NoContentMeasurePolicy,
 ) {
 	Node(
 		measurePolicy = NoContentMeasurePolicyMeasurePolicy(measurePolicy),
-		drawPolicy = drawPolicy,
+		modifiers = modifiers,
 		staticPaintPolicy = null,
-		debugPolicy = { debugInfo() + " x=$x y=$y w=$width h=$height" },
+		debugPolicy = { debugInfo() + " x=$x y=$y w=$width h=$height${modifiers.toDebugString()}" },
+		factory = NodeFactory,
 	)
 }
 
@@ -59,22 +60,32 @@ private class NoContentMeasurePolicyMeasurePolicy(
 @Composable
 public fun Layout(
 	content: @Composable () -> Unit,
+	modifiers: Modifier = Modifier,
 	debugInfo: () -> String = { "Layout()" },
 	measurePolicy: MeasurePolicy,
 ) {
 	Node(
 		content = content,
 		measurePolicy = measurePolicy,
-		drawPolicy = null,
+		modifiers = modifiers,
 		staticPaintPolicy = StaticPaintPolicy.Children,
 		debugPolicy = {
 			buildString {
 				append(debugInfo())
-				append(" x=$x y=$y w=$width h=$height")
+				append(" x=$x y=$y w=$width h=$height${modifiers.toDebugString()}")
 				children.joinTo(this, separator = "") {
 					"\n" + it.toString().prependIndent("  ")
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		factory = NodeFactory,
 	)
 }
+
+private fun Modifier.toDebugString(): String {
+	return if (this == Modifier) {
+		""
+	} else {
+		" " + toString()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Node.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Node.kt
index 4d6ab9d1..8e882dc3 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Node.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Node.kt
@@ -2,30 +2,30 @@ package com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui
 
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Applier
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
-import androidx.compose.runtime.ReusableComposeNode
-import com.jakewharton.mosaic.TextCanvas
+import androidx.compose.runtime.ComposeNode
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.TextSurface
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.DebugPolicy
-import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.DrawPolicy
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.Measurable
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.MeasurePolicy
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.MeasureScope
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.MosaicNode
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.StaticPaintPolicy
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
 
 @Composable
 internal inline fun Node(
 	content: @Composable () -> Unit = {},
+	modifiers: Modifier = Modifier,
 	measurePolicy: MeasurePolicy,
-	drawPolicy: DrawPolicy?,
 	staticPaintPolicy: StaticPaintPolicy?,
 	debugPolicy: DebugPolicy,
+	noinline factory: () -> MosaicNode,
 ) {
-	ReusableComposeNode<MosaicNode, Applier<Any>>(
-		factory = NodeFactory,
+	ComposeNode<MosaicNode, Applier<Any>>(
+		factory = factory,
 		update = {
 			set(measurePolicy) { this.measurePolicy = measurePolicy }
-			set(drawPolicy) { this.drawPolicy = drawPolicy }
+			set(modifiers) { this.modifiers = modifiers }
 			set(staticPaintPolicy) { this.staticPaintPolicy = staticPaintPolicy }
 			set(debugPolicy) { this.debugPolicy = debugPolicy }
 		},
@@ -36,15 +36,23 @@ internal inline fun Node(
 internal val NodeFactory: () -> MosaicNode = {
 	MosaicNode(
 		measurePolicy = ThrowingPolicy,
-		drawPolicy = ThrowingPolicy,
 		staticPaintPolicy = ThrowingPolicy,
 		debugPolicy = ThrowingPolicy,
+		isStatic = false,
 	)
 }
 
-private val ThrowingPolicy = object : MeasurePolicy, DrawPolicy, StaticPaintPolicy, DebugPolicy {
+internal val StaticNodeFactory: () -> MosaicNode = {
+	MosaicNode(
+		measurePolicy = ThrowingPolicy,
+		staticPaintPolicy = ThrowingPolicy,
+		debugPolicy = ThrowingPolicy,
+		isStatic = true,
+	)
+}
+
+private val ThrowingPolicy = object : MeasurePolicy, StaticPaintPolicy, DebugPolicy {
 	override fun MeasureScope.measure(measurables: List<Measurable>) = throw AssertionError()
-	override fun performDraw(canvas: TextCanvas) = throw AssertionError()
 	override fun MosaicNode.performPaintStatics(statics: MutableList<TextSurface>) = throw AssertionError()
 	override fun MosaicNode.renderDebug() = throw AssertionError()
 }
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Row.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Row.kt
index 80c99577..2381fe94 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Row.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Row.kt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import kotlin.jvm.JvmName
 
 @Composable
 public fun Row(content: @Composable () -> Unit) {
-	Layout(content, { "Row()" }) { measurables ->
+	Layout(content, debugInfo = { "Row()" }) { measurables ->
 		var width = 0
 		var height = 0
 		val placeables = measurables.map { measurable ->
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Static.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Static.kt
index 133e2625..d76ba57e 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Static.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Static.kt
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.snapshots.SnapshotStateList
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
 import kotlin.jvm.JvmName
 
 /**
@@ -43,9 +44,7 @@ public fun <T> Static(
 				}
 			}
 		},
-		drawPolicy = {
-			// Nothing to do. Children rendered separately.
-		},
+		modifiers = Modifier,
 		staticPaintPolicy = { statics ->
 			if (children.isNotEmpty()) {
 				for (child in children) {
@@ -58,5 +57,6 @@ public fun <T> Static(
 		debugPolicy = {
 			children.joinToString(prefix = "Static()") { "\n" + it.toString().prependIndent("  ") }
 		},
+		factory = StaticNodeFactory,
 	)
 }
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Text.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Text.kt
index d9b9a4c0..dfe58998 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Text.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/ui/Text.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ package com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui
 
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.drawBehind
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.text.TextLayout
 import kotlin.jvm.JvmName
 
@@ -25,9 +27,9 @@ public fun Text(
 			layout.measure()
 			layout(layout.width, layout.height)
 		},
-		drawPolicy = { canvas ->
+		modifiers = Modifier.drawBehind {
 			layout.lines.forEachIndexed { row, line ->
-				canvas.write(row, 0, line, color, background, style)
+				write(row, 0, line, color, background, style)
 			}
 		},
 	)
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/DebugRenderingTest.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/DebugRenderingTest.kt
index f7ce7858..ce41d1fc 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/DebugRenderingTest.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/DebugRenderingTest.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package com.jakewharton.mosaic
 
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.drawBehind
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.Layout
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.Row
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.Static
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ class DebugRenderingTest {
 		val nodes = mosaicNodes {
 			Row {
 				Text("Hello ")
-				Layout(drawPolicy = { throw UnsupportedOperationException() }) {
+				Layout(modifiers = Modifier.drawBehind { throw UnsupportedOperationException() }) {
 					layout(5, 1)
 				}
 			}
@@ -37,8 +39,8 @@ class DebugRenderingTest {
 				|
 				|NODES:
 				|Row\(\) x=0 y=0 w=11 h=1
-				|  Text\("Hello "\) x=0 y=0 w=6 h=1
-				|  Layout\(\) x=6 y=0 w=5 h=1
+				|  Text\("Hello "\) x=0 y=0 w=6 h=1 DrawBehind
+				|  Layout\(\) x=6 y=0 w=5 h=1 DrawBehind
 				|
 				|OUTPUT:
 				|(kotlin\.|java\.lang\.)?UnsupportedOperationException:?
@@ -56,9 +58,9 @@ class DebugRenderingTest {
 		assertEquals(
 			"""
 			|NODES:
-			|Text("Hello") x=0 y=0 w=5 h=1
+			|Text("Hello") x=0 y=0 w=5 h=1 DrawBehind
 			|Static()
-			|  Text("Static") x=0 y=0 w=6 h=1
+			|  Text("Static") x=0 y=0 w=6 h=1 DrawBehind
 			|
 			|STATIC:
 			|Static
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ class DebugRenderingTest {
 		assertEquals(
 			"""
 			|NODES:
-			|Text("Hello") x=0 y=0 w=5 h=1
+			|Text("Hello") x=0 y=0 w=5 h=1 DrawBehind
 			|
 			|OUTPUT:
 			|Hello
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ class DebugRenderingTest {
 			"""
 			|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +100ms
 			|NODES:
-			|Text("Hello") x=0 y=0 w=5 h=1
+			|Text("Hello") x=0 y=0 w=5 h=1 DrawBehind
 			|
 			|OUTPUT:
 			|Hello
diff --git a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/LayoutTest.kt b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/LayoutTest.kt
index 99a768b2..76c47479 100644
--- a/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/LayoutTest.kt
+++ b/mosaic-runtime/src/commonTest/kotlin/com/jakewharton/mosaic/LayoutTest.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package com.jakewharton.mosaic
 
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.Measurable
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.layout.drawBehind
+import com.jakewharton.mosaic.modifier.Modifier
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.Column
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.Layout
 import com.jakewharton.mosaic.ui.Row
@@ -24,8 +26,8 @@ class LayoutTest {
 		}
 		val expected = """
 			|Custom() x=0 y=0 w=0 h=0
-			|  Text("Hi!") x=0 y=0 w=0 h=0
-			|  Text("Hey!") x=0 y=0 w=0 h=0
+			|  Text("Hi!") x=0 y=0 w=0 h=0 DrawBehind
+			|  Text("Hey!") x=0 y=0 w=0 h=0 DrawBehind
 			""".trimMargin()
 		assertEquals(expected, node.toString())
 	}
@@ -99,9 +101,9 @@ class LayoutTest {
 				}
 				Row {
 					Text("..")
-					Layout(drawPolicy = {
+					Layout(modifiers = Modifier.drawBehind {
 						repeat(4) { row ->
-							it.write(row, 0, "XXXX")
+							write(row, 0, "XXXX")
 						}
 					}) {
 						layout(2, 2)