diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 63435e0..1313ff9 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "ruwio",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "1.1.6",
+  "version": "1.1.7",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index abf23c5..cd3a57f 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -85,6 +85,12 @@ function readStoredTimelineHeight(): number {
 
 const timelineHeight = ref(readStoredTimelineHeight())
 
+// Hide the asset sidebar + properties aside on TAB so the stage
+// gets the full width. Toggled, not held — press TAB again to bring
+// them back. Session-only state; we don't persist this so reopening
+// the app always starts with the panels visible.
+const panelsHidden = ref(false)
+
 function maxTimelineHeight(): number {
   return Math.max(MIN_TIMELINE_HEIGHT, window.innerHeight - MAX_TIMELINE_HEIGHT_MARGIN)
 }
@@ -93,6 +99,8 @@ const appStyle = computed(() => ({
   '--timeline-height': `${timelineHeight.value}px`,
 }))
 
+const appClass = computed(() => ({ 'panels-hidden': panelsHidden.value }))
+
 let resizeStartY = 0
 let resizeStartHeight = 0
 let resizePointerId = -1
@@ -366,6 +374,22 @@ function onKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
     testsOpen.value = true
     return
   }
+  // TAB toggles the side panels (asset sidebar + properties aside)
+  // so the user can give the stage the full window width on demand.
+  // Skipped while typing — TAB still has to walk between form fields
+  // inside dialogs / inputs as expected.
+  if (
+    e.key === 'Tab' &&
+    !e.ctrlKey &&
+    !e.metaKey &&
+    !e.altKey &&
+    !e.shiftKey &&
+    !isEditable(e.target)
+  ) {
+    e.preventDefault()
+    panelsHidden.value = !panelsHidden.value
+    return
+  }
   // Arrow-key nudge: 1px step, 10px with Shift. Intercepted before
   // any other key handler so the stage steals the event from browser
   // scroll / selectable regions. Skipped when the user is typing in
@@ -499,7 +523,7 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
   <div class="root">
   <div class="shell">
     <ClipartDrawer />
-    <div class="app" :style="appStyle">
+    <div class="app" :class="appClass" :style="appStyle">
     <DocumentDrawer />
     <header class="topbar">
       <div class="brand-area">
@@ -691,6 +715,15 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
   min-width: 0;
   height: 100%;
   position: relative;
+  transition: grid-template-columns 220ms var(--ease, ease);
+}
+
+/* TAB-toggle: collapse the side columns so the stage takes the
+   full width. The asides themselves slide off via the .sidebar /
+   .properties transform rules below for a pop-out feel; the grid
+   transition smooths the stage's resize. */
+.app.panels-hidden {
+  grid-template-columns: 0 1fr 0;
 }
 
 .topbar {
@@ -856,6 +889,13 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
   flex-direction: column;
   min-height: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
+  transition: transform 220ms var(--ease, ease), opacity 180ms var(--ease, ease);
+}
+
+.app.panels-hidden .sidebar {
+  transform: translateX(-100%);
+  opacity: 0;
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
 .sidebar-scroll {
@@ -920,6 +960,13 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
   background: var(--panel);
   border-left: 1px solid var(--border);
   overflow: auto;
+  transition: transform 220ms var(--ease, ease), opacity 180ms var(--ease, ease);
+}
+
+.app.panels-hidden .properties {
+  transform: translateX(100%);
+  opacity: 0;
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
 .timeline {
diff --git a/src/devtools/tests.ts b/src/devtools/tests.ts
index 1a2fdf3..3dbaa4b 100644
--- a/src/devtools/tests.ts
+++ b/src/devtools/tests.ts
@@ -4621,6 +4621,48 @@ export function registerAllTests(): void {
       const btn = document.querySelector('button[aria-label="Create a new track group"]')
       expect(btn).toBeTruthy()
     })
+
+    test('TAB toggles .panels-hidden on the .app grid', async () => {
+      // Pressing TAB from the document root flips a class on .app
+      // that collapses the side / props grid columns. A second TAB
+      // restores them. Skipped while the user is typing in an input.
+      const app = document.querySelector('.app') as HTMLElement
+      expect(app).toBeTruthy()
+      // Reset to a known baseline — preceding tests may have left
+      // the panels in either state.
+      while (app.classList.contains('panels-hidden')) {
+        document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Tab', bubbles: true }))
+        await nextTick()
+      }
+      document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Tab', bubbles: true }))
+      await nextTick()
+      expect(app.classList.contains('panels-hidden')).toBe(true)
+      document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Tab', bubbles: true }))
+      await nextTick()
+      expect(app.classList.contains('panels-hidden')).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    test('TAB inside an input does not toggle the panels', async () => {
+      // Typed-text inputs need TAB for focus traversal; the global
+      // toggle bails out via isEditable().
+      const app = document.querySelector('.app') as HTMLElement
+      while (app.classList.contains('panels-hidden')) {
+        document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Tab', bubbles: true }))
+        await nextTick()
+      }
+      const input = document.createElement('input')
+      input.type = 'text'
+      document.body.appendChild(input)
+      try {
+        input.dispatchEvent(
+          new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Tab', bubbles: true }),
+        )
+        await nextTick()
+        expect(app.classList.contains('panels-hidden')).toBe(false)
+      } finally {
+        document.body.removeChild(input)
+      }
+    })
   })
 
   suite('app — arrow-key nudge', () => {
diff --git a/src/version.ts b/src/version.ts
index 660b842..a221450 100644
--- a/src/version.ts
+++ b/src/version.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-export const APP_VERSION = '1.1.6'
+export const APP_VERSION = '1.1.7'
 export const APP_NAME = 'RUWIO'