diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 55b38635..043eb143 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ FlatLaf Change Log
 - Added API to register packages or folders where FlatLaf searches for
   application specific properties files with custom UI defaults (see
   `FlatLaf.registerCustomDefaultsSource(...)` methods).
+- Demo: Show hint popups to guide users to some features of the FlatLaf Demo
+  application.
 - Extras: `FlatSVGIcon` now allows specifying `ClassLoader` that is used to load
   SVG file. (issue #163)
 
diff --git a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.java b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.java
index 8ddd8618..d9ea0c10 100644
--- a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.java
+++ b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.java
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@ import java.awt.*;
 import java.awt.event.*;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.prefs.Preferences;
 import javax.swing.*;
 import javax.swing.text.DefaultEditorKit;
 import javax.swing.text.StyleContext;
 import com.formdev.flatlaf.FlatClientProperties;
 import com.formdev.flatlaf.FlatLaf;
+import com.formdev.flatlaf.demo.HintManager.Hint;
 import com.formdev.flatlaf.demo.extras.*;
 import com.formdev.flatlaf.demo.intellijthemes.*;
 import com.formdev.flatlaf.extras.FlatAnimatedLafChange;
@@ -57,6 +59,35 @@ class DemoFrame
 
 		if( tabIndex >= 0 && tabIndex < tabbedPane.getTabCount() && tabIndex != tabbedPane.getSelectedIndex() )
 			tabbedPane.setSelectedIndex( tabIndex );
+
+		SwingUtilities.invokeLater( () -> {
+			showHints();
+		} );
+	}
+
+	private void showHints() {
+		Hint fontMenuHint = new Hint(
+			"Use 'Font' menu to increase/decrease font size or try different fonts.",
+			fontMenu, SwingConstants.BOTTOM, "hint.fontMenu", null );
+
+		Hint optionsMenuHint = new Hint(
+			"Use 'Options' menu to try out various FlatLaf options.",
+			optionsMenu, SwingConstants.BOTTOM, "hint.optionsMenu", fontMenuHint );
+
+		Hint themesHint = new Hint(
+			"Use 'Themes' list to try out various themes.",
+			themesPanel, SwingConstants.LEFT, "hint.themesPanel", optionsMenuHint );
+
+		HintManager.showHint( themesHint );
+	}
+
+	private void clearHints() {
+		HintManager.hideAllHints();
+
+		Preferences state = DemoPrefs.getState();
+		state.remove( "hint.fontMenu" );
+		state.remove( "hint.optionsMenu" );
+		state.remove( "hint.themesPanel" );
 	}
 
 	private void exitActionPerformed() {
@@ -110,6 +141,11 @@ class DemoFrame
 		System.setProperty( "flatlaf.animatedLafChange", String.valueOf( animatedLafChangeMenuItem.isSelected() ) );
 	}
 
+	private void showHintsChanged() {
+		clearHints();
+		showHints();
+	}
+
 	private void fontFamilyChanged( ActionEvent e ) {
 		String fontFamily = e.getActionCommand();
 
@@ -251,12 +287,13 @@ class DemoFrame
 		JMenuItem restoreFontMenuItem = new JMenuItem();
 		JMenuItem incrFontMenuItem = new JMenuItem();
 		JMenuItem decrFontMenuItem = new JMenuItem();
-		JMenu optionsMenu = new JMenu();
+		optionsMenu = new JMenu();
 		windowDecorationsCheckBoxMenuItem = new JCheckBoxMenuItem();
 		menuBarEmbeddedCheckBoxMenuItem = new JCheckBoxMenuItem();
 		underlineMenuSelectionMenuItem = new JCheckBoxMenuItem();
 		alwaysShowMnemonicsMenuItem = new JCheckBoxMenuItem();
 		animatedLafChangeMenuItem = new JCheckBoxMenuItem();
+		JMenuItem showHintsMenuItem = new JMenuItem();
 		JMenu helpMenu = new JMenu();
 		JMenuItem aboutMenuItem = new JMenuItem();
 		JToolBar toolBar1 = new JToolBar();
@@ -276,7 +313,7 @@ class DemoFrame
 		OptionPanePanel optionPanePanel = new OptionPanePanel();
 		ExtrasPanel extrasPanel1 = new ExtrasPanel();
 		controlBar = new ControlBar();
-		IJThemesPanel themesPanel = new IJThemesPanel();
+		themesPanel = new IJThemesPanel();
 
 		//======== this ========
 		setTitle("FlatLaf Demo");
@@ -516,6 +553,11 @@ class DemoFrame
 				animatedLafChangeMenuItem.setSelected(true);
 				animatedLafChangeMenuItem.addActionListener(e -> animatedLafChangeChanged());
 				optionsMenu.add(animatedLafChangeMenuItem);
+
+				//---- showHintsMenuItem ----
+				showHintsMenuItem.setText("Show hints");
+				showHintsMenuItem.addActionListener(e -> showHintsChanged());
+				optionsMenu.add(showHintsMenuItem);
 			}
 			menuBar1.add(optionsMenu);
 
@@ -631,6 +673,7 @@ class DemoFrame
 
 	// JFormDesigner - Variables declaration - DO NOT MODIFY  //GEN-BEGIN:variables
 	private JMenu fontMenu;
+	private JMenu optionsMenu;
 	private JCheckBoxMenuItem windowDecorationsCheckBoxMenuItem;
 	private JCheckBoxMenuItem menuBarEmbeddedCheckBoxMenuItem;
 	private JCheckBoxMenuItem underlineMenuSelectionMenuItem;
@@ -638,5 +681,6 @@ class DemoFrame
 	private JCheckBoxMenuItem animatedLafChangeMenuItem;
 	private JTabbedPane tabbedPane;
 	private ControlBar controlBar;
+	private IJThemesPanel themesPanel;
 	// JFormDesigner - End of variables declaration  //GEN-END:variables
 }
diff --git a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.jfd b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.jfd
index 12f8061c..d7f1ffd6 100644
--- a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.jfd
+++ b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/DemoFrame.jfd
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-JFDML JFormDesigner: "7.0.2.0.298" Java: "14.0.2" encoding: "UTF-8"
+JFDML JFormDesigner: "7.0.2.0.298" Java: "14" encoding: "UTF-8"
 
 new FormModel {
 	contentType: "form/swing"
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ new FormModel {
 			} )
 			add( new FormComponent( "com.formdev.flatlaf.demo.intellijthemes.IJThemesPanel" ) {
 				name: "themesPanel"
+				auxiliary() {
+					"JavaCodeGenerator.variableLocal": false
+				}
 			}, new FormLayoutConstraints( class java.lang.String ) {
 				"value": "East"
 			} )
@@ -322,6 +325,9 @@ new FormModel {
 				add( new FormContainer( "javax.swing.JMenu", new FormLayoutManager( class javax.swing.JMenu ) ) {
 					name: "optionsMenu"
 					"text": "Options"
+					auxiliary() {
+						"JavaCodeGenerator.variableLocal": false
+					}
 					add( new FormComponent( "javax.swing.JCheckBoxMenuItem" ) {
 						name: "windowDecorationsCheckBoxMenuItem"
 						"text": "Window decorations"
@@ -365,6 +371,11 @@ new FormModel {
 						}
 						addEvent( new FormEvent( "java.awt.event.ActionListener", "actionPerformed", "animatedLafChangeChanged", false ) )
 					} )
+					add( new FormComponent( "javax.swing.JMenuItem" ) {
+						name: "showHintsMenuItem"
+						"text": "Show hints"
+						addEvent( new FormEvent( "java.awt.event.ActionListener", "actionPerformed", "showHintsChanged", false ) )
+					} )
 				} )
 				add( new FormContainer( "javax.swing.JMenu", new FormLayoutManager( class javax.swing.JMenu ) ) {
 					name: "helpMenu"
diff --git a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatLafDemo.java b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatLafDemo.java
index 8d544bc8..db92091c 100644
--- a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatLafDemo.java
+++ b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatLafDemo.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package com.formdev.flatlaf.demo;
 import javax.swing.JDialog;
 import javax.swing.JFrame;
 import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
+import com.formdev.flatlaf.FlatLaf;
 import com.formdev.flatlaf.extras.FlatInspector;
 import com.formdev.flatlaf.util.SystemInfo;
 
@@ -42,6 +43,9 @@ public class FlatLafDemo
 			JFrame.setDefaultLookAndFeelDecorated( true );
 			JDialog.setDefaultLookAndFeelDecorated( true );
 
+			// application specific UI defaults
+			FlatLaf.registerCustomDefaultsSource( "com.formdev.flatlaf.demo" );
+
 			// set look and feel
 			DemoPrefs.initLaf( args );
 
diff --git a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/HintManager.java b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/HintManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9a336f37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/HintManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 FormDev Software GmbH
+ *
+ * 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
+ *
+ *     https://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.formdev.flatlaf.demo;
+
+import java.awt.*;
+import java.awt.event.MouseAdapter;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import javax.swing.*;
+import com.formdev.flatlaf.ui.FlatDropShadowBorder;
+import com.formdev.flatlaf.ui.FlatPopupMenuBorder;
+import com.formdev.flatlaf.ui.FlatUIUtils;
+import com.formdev.flatlaf.util.UIScale;
+import net.miginfocom.swing.*;
+
+/**
+ * @author Karl Tauber
+ */
+class HintManager
+{
+	private static final List<HintPanel> hintPanels = new ArrayList<>();
+
+	static void showHint( Hint hint ) {
+		// check whether user already closed the hint
+		if( DemoPrefs.getState().getBoolean( hint.prefsKey, false ) ) {
+			if( hint.nextHint != null )
+				showHint( hint.nextHint );
+			return;
+		}
+
+		HintPanel hintPanel = new HintPanel( hint );
+		hintPanel.showHint();
+
+		hintPanels.add( hintPanel );
+	}
+
+	static void hideAllHints() {
+		HintPanel[] hintPanels2 = hintPanels.toArray( new HintPanel[hintPanels.size()] );
+		for( HintPanel hintPanel : hintPanels2 )
+			hintPanel.hideHint();
+	}
+
+	//---- class HintPanel ----------------------------------------------------
+
+	static class Hint
+	{
+		private final String message;
+		private final Component owner;
+		private final int position;
+		private final String prefsKey;
+		private final Hint nextHint;
+
+		Hint( String message, Component owner, int position, String prefsKey, Hint nextHint ) {
+			this.message = message;
+			this.owner = owner;
+			this.position = position;
+			this.prefsKey = prefsKey;
+			this.nextHint = nextHint;
+		}
+	}
+
+	//---- class HintPanel ----------------------------------------------------
+
+	private static class HintPanel
+		extends JPanel
+	{
+		private final Hint hint;
+
+		private JPanel popup;
+
+		private HintPanel( Hint hint ) {
+			this.hint = hint;
+
+			initComponents();
+
+			hintLabel.setText( "<html>" + hint.message + "</html>" );
+
+			// grab all mouse events to avoid that components overlapped
+			// by the hint panel receive them
+			addMouseListener( new MouseAdapter() {} );
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public void updateUI() {
+			super.updateUI();
+
+			setBackground( UIManager.getColor( "HintPanel.backgroundColor" ) );
+			setBorder( new FlatPopupMenuBorder() );
+		}
+
+		void showHint() {
+			JRootPane rootPane = SwingUtilities.getRootPane( hint.owner );
+			if( rootPane == null )
+				return;
+
+			JLayeredPane layeredPane = rootPane.getLayeredPane();
+
+			// create a popup panel that has a drop shadow
+			popup = new JPanel( new BorderLayout() ) {
+				@Override
+				public void updateUI() {
+					super.updateUI();
+
+					setBorder( new FlatDropShadowBorder(
+						UIManager.getColor( "Popup.dropShadowColor" ),
+						UIManager.getInsets( "Popup.dropShadowInsets" ),
+						FlatUIUtils.getUIFloat( "Popup.dropShadowOpacity", 0.5f ) ) );
+
+					// use invokeLater because at this time the UI delegates
+					// of child components are not yet updated
+					EventQueue.invokeLater( () -> {
+						validate();
+						setSize( getPreferredSize() );
+					} );
+				}
+			};
+			popup.setOpaque( false );
+			popup.add( this );
+
+			// calculate x/y location for hint popup
+			Point pt = SwingUtilities.convertPoint( hint.owner, 0, 0, layeredPane );
+			int x = pt.x;
+			int y = pt.y;
+			Dimension size = popup.getPreferredSize();
+			int gap = UIScale.scale( 6 );
+
+			switch( hint.position ) {
+				case SwingConstants.LEFT:
+					x -= size.width + gap;
+					break;
+
+				case SwingConstants.TOP:
+					y -= size.height + gap;
+					break;
+
+				case SwingConstants.RIGHT:
+					x += hint.owner.getWidth() + gap;
+					break;
+
+				case SwingConstants.BOTTOM:
+					y += hint.owner.getHeight() + gap;
+					break;
+			}
+
+			// set hint popup size and show it
+			popup.setBounds( x, y, size.width, size.height );
+			layeredPane.add( popup, JLayeredPane.POPUP_LAYER );
+		}
+
+		void hideHint() {
+			if( popup != null ) {
+				Container parent = popup.getParent();
+				if( parent != null ) {
+					parent.remove( popup );
+					parent.repaint( popup.getX(), popup.getY(), popup.getWidth(), popup.getHeight() );
+				}
+			}
+
+			hintPanels.remove( this );
+		}
+
+		private void gotIt() {
+			// hide hint
+			hideHint();
+
+			// remember that user closed the hint
+			DemoPrefs.getState().putBoolean( hint.prefsKey, true );
+
+			// show next hint (if any)
+			if( hint.nextHint != null )
+				HintManager.showHint( hint.nextHint );
+		}
+
+		private void initComponents() {
+			// JFormDesigner - Component initialization - DO NOT MODIFY  //GEN-BEGIN:initComponents
+			hintLabel = new JLabel();
+			gotItButton = new JButton();
+
+			//======== this ========
+			setLayout(new MigLayout(
+				"insets dialog,hidemode 3",
+				// columns
+				"[::200,fill]",
+				// rows
+				"[]para" +
+				"[]"));
+
+			//---- hintLabel ----
+			hintLabel.setText("hint");
+			add(hintLabel, "cell 0 0");
+
+			//---- gotItButton ----
+			gotItButton.setText("Got it!");
+			gotItButton.setFocusable(false);
+			gotItButton.addActionListener(e -> gotIt());
+			add(gotItButton, "cell 0 1,alignx right,growx 0");
+			// JFormDesigner - End of component initialization  //GEN-END:initComponents
+		}
+
+		// JFormDesigner - Variables declaration - DO NOT MODIFY  //GEN-BEGIN:variables
+		private JLabel hintLabel;
+		private JButton gotItButton;
+		// JFormDesigner - End of variables declaration  //GEN-END:variables
+	}
+}
diff --git a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/HintManager.jfd b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/HintManager.jfd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7fc21ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/HintManager.jfd
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+JFDML JFormDesigner: "7.0.2.0.298" Java: "14" encoding: "UTF-8"
+
+new FormModel {
+	contentType: "form/swing"
+	root: new FormRoot {
+		add( new FormContainer( "javax.swing.JPanel", new FormLayoutManager( class net.miginfocom.swing.MigLayout ) {
+			"$layoutConstraints": "insets dialog,hidemode 3"
+			"$columnConstraints": "[::200,fill]"
+			"$rowConstraints": "[]para[]"
+		} ) {
+			name: "panel"
+			auxiliary() {
+				"JavaCodeGenerator.className": "HintPanel"
+			}
+			add( new FormComponent( "javax.swing.JLabel" ) {
+				name: "hintLabel"
+				"text": "hint"
+			}, new FormLayoutConstraints( class net.miginfocom.layout.CC ) {
+				"value": "cell 0 0"
+			} )
+			add( new FormComponent( "javax.swing.JButton" ) {
+				name: "gotItButton"
+				"text": "Got it!"
+				"focusable": false
+				addEvent( new FormEvent( "java.awt.event.ActionListener", "actionPerformed", "gotIt", false ) )
+			}, new FormLayoutConstraints( class net.miginfocom.layout.CC ) {
+				"value": "cell 0 1,alignx right,growx 0"
+			} )
+		}, new FormLayoutConstraints( null ) {
+			"location": new java.awt.Point( 0, 0 )
+			"size": new java.awt.Dimension( 400, 300 )
+		} )
+	}
+}
diff --git a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/resources/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatDarkLaf.properties b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/resources/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatDarkLaf.properties
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb56e9fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/resources/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatDarkLaf.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2020 FormDev Software GmbH
+#
+# 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
+#
+#     https://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.
+#
+
+HintPanel.backgroundColor=darken(#ffffe1,80%)
diff --git a/flatlaf-demo/src/main/resources/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatLightLaf.properties b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/resources/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatLightLaf.properties
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..07b41420
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flatlaf-demo/src/main/resources/com/formdev/flatlaf/demo/FlatLightLaf.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2020 FormDev Software GmbH
+#
+# 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
+#
+#     https://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.
+#
+
+HintPanel.backgroundColor=#ffffe1