diff --git a/docs/reference/gtk/gtk3-sections.txt b/docs/reference/gtk/gtk3-sections.txt
index 632b0bc107..bbf8178b16 100644
--- a/docs/reference/gtk/gtk3-sections.txt
+++ b/docs/reference/gtk/gtk3-sections.txt
@@ -5402,6 +5402,12 @@ gtk_style_context_get_style
 gtk_style_context_get_style_property
 gtk_style_context_get_style_valist
 gtk_style_context_get_valist
+gtk_style_context_get_color
+gtk_style_context_get_background_color
+gtk_style_context_get_border_color
+gtk_style_context_get_border
+gtk_style_context_get_padding
+gtk_style_context_get_margin
 gtk_style_context_invalidate
 gtk_style_context_state_is_running
 gtk_style_context_lookup_color
@@ -5506,6 +5512,12 @@ gtk_theming_engine_get_style
 gtk_theming_engine_get_style_property
 gtk_theming_engine_get_style_valist
 gtk_theming_engine_get_valist
+gtk_theming_engine_get_color
+gtk_theming_engine_get_background_color
+gtk_theming_engine_get_border_color
+gtk_theming_engine_get_border
+gtk_theming_engine_get_padding
+gtk_theming_engine_get_margin
 gtk_theming_engine_has_class
 gtk_theming_engine_has_region
 gtk_theming_engine_lookup_color
diff --git a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c
index 65255402ff..d4f5db3dd8 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c
@@ -3151,6 +3151,198 @@ gtk_style_context_set_background (GtkStyleContext *context,
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * gtk_style_context_get_color:
+ * @context: a #GtkStyleContext
+ * @state: state to retrieve the color for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the foreground color
+ *
+ * Gets the foreground color for a given state.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_style_context_get_color (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                             GtkStateFlags    state,
+                             GdkRGBA         *color)
+{
+  GtkStyleContextPrivate *priv;
+  StyleData *data;
+  const GValue *value;
+  GdkRGBA *c;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_STYLE_CONTEXT (context));
+
+  priv = context->priv;
+  g_return_if_fail (priv->widget_path != NULL);
+
+  data = style_data_lookup (context);
+  value = _gtk_style_properties_peek_property (data->store,
+                                               "color", state);
+  c = g_value_get_boxed (value);
+  *color = *c;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_style_context_get_background_color:
+ * @context: a #GtkStyleContext
+ * @state: state to retrieve the color for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the background color
+ *
+ * Gets the background color for a given state.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_style_context_get_background_color (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                        GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                        GdkRGBA         *color)
+{
+  GtkStyleContextPrivate *priv;
+  StyleData *data;
+  const GValue *value;
+  GdkRGBA *c;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_STYLE_CONTEXT (context));
+
+  priv = context->priv;
+  g_return_if_fail (priv->widget_path != NULL);
+
+  data = style_data_lookup (context);
+  value = _gtk_style_properties_peek_property (data->store,
+                                               "background-color", state);
+  c = g_value_get_boxed (value);
+  *color = *c;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_style_context_get_border_color:
+ * @context: a #GtkStyleContext
+ * @state: state to retrieve the color for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the border color
+ *
+ * Gets the border color for a given state.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_style_context_get_border_color (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                    GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                    GdkRGBA         *color)
+{
+  GtkStyleContextPrivate *priv;
+  StyleData *data;
+  const GValue *value;
+  GdkRGBA *c;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_STYLE_CONTEXT (context));
+
+  priv = context->priv;
+  g_return_if_fail (priv->widget_path != NULL);
+
+  data = style_data_lookup (context);
+  value = _gtk_style_properties_peek_property (data->store,
+                                               "border-color", state);
+  c = g_value_get_boxed (value);
+  *color = *c;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_style_context_get_border:
+ * @context: a #GtkStyleContext
+ * @state: state to retrieve the border for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the border settings
+ *
+ * Gets the border for a given state as a #GtkBorder.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_style_context_get_border (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                              GtkStateFlags    state,
+                              GtkBorder       *border)
+{
+  GtkStyleContextPrivate *priv;
+  StyleData *data;
+  const GValue *value;
+  GtkBorder *b;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_STYLE_CONTEXT (context));
+
+  priv = context->priv;
+  g_return_if_fail (priv->widget_path != NULL);
+
+  data = style_data_lookup (context);
+  value = _gtk_style_properties_peek_property (data->store,
+                                               "border-width", state);
+  b = g_value_get_boxed (value);
+  *border = *b;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_style_context_get_padding:
+ * @context: a #GtkStyleContext
+ * @state: state to retrieve the padding for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the padding settings
+ *
+ * Gets the padding for a given state as a #GtkBorder.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_style_context_get_padding (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                               GtkStateFlags    state,
+                               GtkBorder       *padding)
+{
+  GtkStyleContextPrivate *priv;
+  StyleData *data;
+  const GValue *value;
+  GtkBorder *b;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_STYLE_CONTEXT (context));
+
+  priv = context->priv;
+  g_return_if_fail (priv->widget_path != NULL);
+
+  data = style_data_lookup (context);
+  value = _gtk_style_properties_peek_property (data->store,
+                                               "padding", state);
+  b = g_value_get_boxed (value);
+  *padding = *b;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_style_context_get_margin:
+ * @context: a #GtkStyleContext
+ * @state: state to retrieve the border for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the margin settings
+ *
+ * Gets the margin for a given state as a #GtkBorder.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_style_context_get_margin (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                              GtkStateFlags    state,
+                              GtkBorder       *margin)
+{
+  GtkStyleContextPrivate *priv;
+  StyleData *data;
+  const GValue *value;
+  GtkBorder *b;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_STYLE_CONTEXT (context));
+
+  priv = context->priv;
+  g_return_if_fail (priv->widget_path != NULL);
+
+  data = style_data_lookup (context);
+  value = _gtk_style_properties_peek_property (data->store,
+                                               "margin", state);
+  b = g_value_get_boxed (value);
+  *margin = *b;
+}
+
 /* Paint methods */
 
 /**
diff --git a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h
index b2dd734d10..be20bf95f6 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <glib-object.h>
 #include <gtk/gtkstyleprovider.h>
 #include <gtk/gtkwidgetpath.h>
+#include <gtk/gtkborder.h>
 
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
@@ -420,6 +421,26 @@ void gtk_style_context_push_animatable_region (GtkStyleContext *context,
                                                gpointer         region_id);
 void gtk_style_context_pop_animatable_region  (GtkStyleContext *context);
 
+/* Some helper functions to retrieve most common properties */
+void gtk_style_context_get_color            (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                             GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                             GdkRGBA         *color);
+void gtk_style_context_get_background_color (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                             GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                             GdkRGBA         *color);
+void gtk_style_context_get_border_color     (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                             GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                             GdkRGBA         *color);
+
+void gtk_style_context_get_border           (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                             GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                             GtkBorder       *border);
+void gtk_style_context_get_padding          (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                             GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                             GtkBorder       *padding);
+void gtk_style_context_get_margin           (GtkStyleContext *context,
+                                             GtkStateFlags    state,
+                                             GtkBorder       *margin);
 
 /* Semi-private API */
 const GValue * _gtk_style_context_peek_style_property (GtkStyleContext *context,
diff --git a/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.c b/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.c
index 99308295be..c6592740fc 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.c
@@ -857,6 +857,43 @@ lookup_default_value (PropertyNode *node,
     g_param_value_set_default (node->pspec, value);
 }
 
+const GValue *
+_gtk_style_properties_peek_property (GtkStyleProperties *props,
+                                     const gchar        *prop_name,
+                                     GtkStateFlags       state)
+{
+  GtkStylePropertiesPrivate *priv;
+  PropertyNode *node;
+  PropertyData *prop;
+  GValue *val;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GTK_IS_STYLE_PROPERTIES (props), NULL);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (prop_name != NULL, NULL);
+
+  node = property_node_lookup (g_quark_try_string (prop_name));
+
+  if (!node)
+    {
+      g_warning ("Style property \"%s\" is not registered", prop_name);
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
+  priv = props->priv;
+  prop = g_hash_table_lookup (priv->properties,
+                              GINT_TO_POINTER (node->property_quark));
+
+  if (!prop)
+    return NULL;
+
+  val = property_data_match_state (prop, state);
+
+  if (val &&
+      !style_properties_resolve_type (props, node, val))
+    return NULL;
+
+  return val;
+}
+
 /**
  * gtk_style_properties_get_property:
  * @props: a #GtkStyleProperties
diff --git a/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.h b/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.h
index 8a243b7f4f..4ff783a729 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkstyleproperties.h
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@ typedef gboolean (* GtkStylePropertyParser) (const gchar  *string,
 
 GType gtk_style_properties_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
+/* Semi-private API */
+const GValue * _gtk_style_properties_peek_property (GtkStyleProperties *props,
+                                                    const gchar        *prop_name,
+                                                    GtkStateFlags       state);
+
 /* Functions to register style properties */
 void     gtk_style_properties_register_property (GtkStylePropertyParser  parse_func,
                                                  GParamSpec             *pspec);
diff --git a/gtk/gtkthemingengine.c b/gtk/gtkthemingengine.c
index e5d9e577b3..7469aefc6e 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkthemingengine.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkthemingengine.c
@@ -737,6 +737,145 @@ gtk_theming_engine_get_junction_sides (GtkThemingEngine *engine)
   return gtk_style_context_get_junction_sides (priv->context);
 }
 
+/**
+ * gtk_theming_engine_get_color:
+ * @engine: a #GtkThemingEngine
+ * @state: state to retrieve the color for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the foreground color
+ *
+ * Gets the foreground color for a given state.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_theming_engine_get_color (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                              GtkStateFlags     state,
+                              GdkRGBA          *color)
+{
+  GtkThemingEnginePrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_THEMING_ENGINE (engine));
+
+  priv = engine->priv;
+  gtk_style_context_get_color (priv->context, state, color);
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_theming_engine_get_background_color:
+ * @engine: a #GtkThemingEngine
+ * @state: state to retrieve the color for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the background color
+ *
+ * Gets the background color for a given state.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_theming_engine_get_background_color (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                         GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                         GdkRGBA          *color)
+{
+  GtkThemingEnginePrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_THEMING_ENGINE (engine));
+
+  priv = engine->priv;
+  gtk_style_context_get_background_color (priv->context, state, color);
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_theming_engine_get_border_color:
+ * @engine: a #GtkThemingEngine
+ * @state: state to retrieve the color for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the border color
+ *
+ * Gets the border color for a given state.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_theming_engine_get_border_color (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                     GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                     GdkRGBA          *color)
+{
+  GtkThemingEnginePrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_THEMING_ENGINE (engine));
+
+  priv = engine->priv;
+  gtk_style_context_get_border_color (priv->context, state, color);
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_theming_engine_get_border:
+ * @engine: a #GtkthemingEngine
+ * @state: state to retrieve the border for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the border settings
+ *
+ * Gets the border for a given state as a #GtkBorder.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_theming_engine_get_border (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                               GtkStateFlags     state,
+                               GtkBorder        *border)
+{
+  GtkThemingEnginePrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_THEMING_ENGINE (engine));
+
+  priv = engine->priv;
+  gtk_style_context_get_border (priv->context, state, border);
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_theming_engine_get_padding:
+ * @engine: a #GtkthemingEngine
+ * @state: state to retrieve the padding for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the padding settings
+ *
+ * Gets the padding for a given state as a #GtkBorder.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_theming_engine_get_padding (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                GtkBorder        *padding)
+{
+  GtkThemingEnginePrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_THEMING_ENGINE (engine));
+
+  priv = engine->priv;
+  gtk_style_context_get_padding (priv->context, state, padding);
+}
+
+/**
+ * gtk_theming_engine_get_margin:
+ * @engien: a #GtkThemingEngine
+ * @state: state to retrieve the border for
+ * @color: (out): return value for the margin settings
+ *
+ * Gets the margin for a given state as a #GtkBorder.
+ *
+ * Since: 3.0
+ **/
+void
+gtk_theming_engine_get_margin (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                               GtkStateFlags     state,
+                               GtkBorder        *margin)
+{
+  GtkThemingEnginePrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_THEMING_ENGINE (engine));
+
+  priv = engine->priv;
+  gtk_style_context_get_margin (priv->context, state, margin);
+}
+
+
 /* GtkThemingModule */
 
 static gboolean
diff --git a/gtk/gtkthemingengine.h b/gtk/gtkthemingengine.h
index 8dc862e296..71cd635f80 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkthemingengine.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkthemingengine.h
@@ -215,6 +215,28 @@ GtkTextDirection gtk_theming_engine_get_direction (GtkThemingEngine *engine);
 
 GtkJunctionSides gtk_theming_engine_get_junction_sides (GtkThemingEngine *engine);
 
+/* Helper functions */
+void gtk_theming_engine_get_color            (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                              GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                              GdkRGBA          *color);
+void gtk_theming_engine_get_background_color (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                              GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                              GdkRGBA          *color);
+void gtk_theming_engine_get_border_color     (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                              GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                              GdkRGBA          *color);
+
+void gtk_theming_engine_get_border  (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                     GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                     GtkBorder        *border);
+void gtk_theming_engine_get_padding (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                     GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                     GtkBorder        *padding);
+void gtk_theming_engine_get_margin  (GtkThemingEngine *engine,
+                                     GtkStateFlags     state,
+                                     GtkBorder        *margin);
+
+
 GtkThemingEngine * gtk_theming_engine_load (const gchar *name);
 
 GdkScreen * gtk_theming_engine_get_screen (GtkThemingEngine *engine);