diff --git a/packages/studio/src/App.tsx b/packages/studio/src/App.tsx
index bc9504808..f8ffb5699 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/App.tsx
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ export function StudioApp() {
   const [rightWidth, setRightWidth] = useState(400);
   const [leftCollapsed, setLeftCollapsed] = useState(false);
   const [rightCollapsed, setRightCollapsed] = useState(true);
+  const [timelineVisible, setTimelineVisible] = useState(false);
   const panelDragRef = useRef<{
     side: "left" | "right";
     startX: number;
@@ -575,6 +576,29 @@ export function StudioApp() {
               <path d="M9 3v18" />
             </svg>
           </button>
+          <button
+            onClick={() => setTimelineVisible((v) => !v)}
+            className={`h-7 w-7 flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border transition-colors ${
+              timelineVisible
+                ? "text-[#3CE6AC] bg-[#3CE6AC]/10 border-[#3CE6AC]/30"
+                : "bg-transparent border-transparent text-neutral-500 hover:text-neutral-300 hover:bg-neutral-800"
+            }`}
+            title={timelineVisible ? "Hide timeline" : "Show timeline"}
+          >
+            <svg
+              width="14"
+              height="14"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              fill="none"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              strokeWidth="1.5"
+              strokeLinecap="round"
+            >
+              <rect x="3" y="13" width="18" height="8" rx="1" />
+              <line x1="3" y1="9" x2="21" y2="9" />
+              <line x1="3" y1="5" x2="21" y2="5" />
+            </svg>
+          </button>
           <button
             onClick={() => setRightCollapsed((v) => !v)}
             className={`h-7 flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 rounded-md text-[11px] font-medium border transition-colors ${
@@ -673,6 +697,8 @@ export function StudioApp() {
             onIframeRef={(iframe) => {
               previewIframeRef.current = iframe;
             }}
+            timelineVisible={timelineVisible}
+            onToggleTimeline={() => setTimelineVisible((v) => !v)}
           />
         </div>
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/FileTree.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/FileTree.tsx
index 31a0977ee..18a43cfaf 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/FileTree.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/FileTree.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,19 @@
 import { memo, useState, useCallback } from "react";
-import { Film, Music, Image, ChevronDown, ChevronRight } from "../../icons/SystemIcons";
+import {
+  FileHtml,
+  FileCss,
+  FileJs,
+  FileJsx,
+  FileTs,
+  FileTsx,
+  FileTxt,
+  FileCode,
+  File,
+  FilmStrip,
+  MusicNote,
+  Image as PhImage,
+} from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight } from "../../icons/SystemIcons";
 
 interface FileTreeProps {
   files: string[];
@@ -7,65 +21,28 @@ interface FileTreeProps {
   onSelectFile: (path: string) => void;
 }
 
-/** VS Code–style language badge: colored rounded rect with a 2–3 letter label. */
-function Badge({ label, bg, text = "#fff" }: { label: string; bg: string; text?: string }) {
-  return (
-    <span
-      className="flex-shrink-0 inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded"
-      style={{
-        width: 16,
-        height: 16,
-        background: bg,
-        color: text,
-        fontSize: 7,
-        fontWeight: 700,
-        fontFamily: "monospace",
-        letterSpacing: "-0.02em",
-        lineHeight: 1,
-      }}
-    >
-      {label}
-    </span>
-  );
-}
+const SZ = 14;
 
-/** Render a file-type icon for a given file path. */
 function FileIcon({ path }: { path: string }) {
   const ext = path.split(".").pop()?.toLowerCase() ?? "";
-  // Language badges
-  if (ext === "html") return <Badge label="HTML" bg="#E44D26" />;
-  if (ext === "js" || ext === "mjs" || ext === "cjs")
-    return <Badge label="JS" bg="#F0DB4F" text="#323330" />;
-  if (ext === "ts" || ext === "mts") return <Badge label="TS" bg="#3178C6" />;
-  if (ext === "css") return <Badge label="CSS" bg="#264DE4" />;
-  if (ext === "json") return <Badge label="{}" bg="#1E7F34" />;
-  if (ext === "md" || ext === "mdx") return <Badge label="MD" bg="#555" />;
-  if (ext === "svg") return <Badge label="SVG" bg="#FF9900" />;
+  const d = { size: SZ, weight: "duotone" as const, className: "flex-shrink-0" };
+  if (ext === "html") return <FileHtml {...d} color="#E44D26" />;
+  if (ext === "css") return <FileCss {...d} color="#264DE4" />;
+  if (ext === "js" || ext === "mjs" || ext === "cjs") return <FileJs {...d} color="#F0DB4F" />;
+  if (ext === "jsx") return <FileJsx {...d} color="#61DAFB" />;
+  if (ext === "ts" || ext === "mts") return <FileTs {...d} color="#3178C6" />;
+  if (ext === "tsx") return <FileTsx {...d} color="#3178C6" />;
+  if (ext === "txt" || ext === "md" || ext === "mdx") return <FileTxt {...d} color="#9CA3AF" />;
+  if (ext === "json" || ext === "svg") return <FileCode {...d} color="#22C55E" />;
   if (ext === "wav" || ext === "mp3" || ext === "ogg" || ext === "m4a")
-    return <Music size={13} style={{ color: "#3CE6AC" }} className="flex-shrink-0" />;
+    return <MusicNote size={SZ} color="#3CE6AC" className="flex-shrink-0" />;
   if (ext === "mp4" || ext === "webm" || ext === "mov")
-    return <Film size={13} style={{ color: "#A855F7" }} className="flex-shrink-0" />;
+    return <FilmStrip size={SZ} color="#A855F7" className="flex-shrink-0" />;
   if (ext === "png" || ext === "jpg" || ext === "jpeg" || ext === "webp" || ext === "gif")
-    return <Image size={13} style={{ color: "#22C55E" }} className="flex-shrink-0" />;
+    return <PhImage size={SZ} color="#22C55E" className="flex-shrink-0" />;
   if (ext === "woff" || ext === "woff2" || ext === "ttf" || ext === "otf")
-    return <Badge label="Aa" bg="#525252" />;
-  if (ext === "txt") return <Badge label="TXT" bg="#4B5563" />;
-  // Generic document
-  return (
-    <svg
-      width="13"
-      height="13"
-      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-      fill="none"
-      stroke="#6B7280"
-      strokeWidth="1.5"
-      strokeLinecap="round"
-      className="flex-shrink-0"
-    >
-      <path d="M14 2H6a2 2 0 00-2 2v16a2 2 0 002 2h12a2 2 0 002-2V8z" />
-      <polyline points="14 2 14 8 20 8" />
-    </svg>
-  );
+    return <File size={SZ} weight="duotone" color="#6B7280" className="flex-shrink-0" />;
+  return <File size={SZ} weight="duotone" color="#6B7280" className="flex-shrink-0" />;
 }
 
 interface TreeNode {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/nle/NLELayout.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/nle/NLELayout.tsx
index aacca0017..b29d267a8 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/nle/NLELayout.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/nle/NLELayout.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ interface NLELayoutProps {
   ) => ReactNode;
   /** Exposes the compIdToSrc map for parent components (e.g., useRenderClipContent) */
   onCompIdToSrcChange?: (map: Map<string, string>) => void;
+  /** Whether the timeline panel is visible (default: true) */
+  timelineVisible?: boolean;
+  /** Callback to toggle timeline visibility */
+  onToggleTimeline?: () => void;
 }
 
 const MIN_TIMELINE_H = 100;
@@ -47,6 +51,8 @@ export const NLELayout = memo(function NLELayout({
   onCompositionChange,
   renderClipContent,
   onCompIdToSrcChange,
+  timelineVisible,
+  onToggleTimeline,
 }: NLELayoutProps) {
   const {
     iframeRef,
@@ -311,31 +317,20 @@ export const NLELayout = memo(function NLELayout({
       onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
       tabIndex={-1}
     >
-      {/* Preview — takes remaining space above timeline */}
-      <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 relative">
-        <NLEPreview
-          projectId={projectId}
-          iframeRef={iframeRef}
-          onIframeLoad={onIframeLoad}
-          portrait={portrait}
-          directUrl={directUrl}
-          refreshKey={refreshKey}
-        />
-        {previewOverlay}
-      </div>
-
-      {/* Resize divider */}
-      <div
-        className="h-1 flex-shrink-0 bg-neutral-800 hover:bg-blue-500 cursor-row-resize transition-colors active:bg-blue-400 z-10"
-        style={{ touchAction: "none" }}
-        onPointerDown={handleDividerPointerDown}
-        onPointerMove={handleDividerPointerMove}
-        onPointerUp={handleDividerPointerUp}
-      />
-
-      {/* Timeline section — fixed height, resizable */}
-      <div className="flex flex-col flex-shrink-0" style={{ height: timelineH }}>
-        {/* Breadcrumb + Player controls */}
+      {/* Preview + player controls — takes remaining space above timeline */}
+      <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 flex flex-col">
+        <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 relative">
+          <NLEPreview
+            projectId={projectId}
+            iframeRef={iframeRef}
+            onIframeLoad={onIframeLoad}
+            portrait={portrait}
+            directUrl={directUrl}
+            refreshKey={refreshKey}
+          />
+          {previewOverlay}
+        </div>
+        {/* Player controls always visible, regardless of timeline state */}
         <div className="bg-neutral-950 border-t border-neutral-800/50 flex-shrink-0">
           {compositionStack.length > 1 && (
             <CompositionBreadcrumb
@@ -343,28 +338,49 @@ export const NLELayout = memo(function NLELayout({
               onNavigate={handleNavigateComposition}
             />
           )}
-          <PlayerControls onTogglePlay={togglePlay} onSeek={seek} />
-        </div>
-
-        {/* Timeline tracks */}
-        <div
-          className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto bg-neutral-950"
-          onDoubleClick={(e) => {
-            if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest("[data-clip]")) return;
-            if (compositionStack.length > 1) {
-              updateCompositionStack((prev) => prev.slice(0, -1));
-            }
-          }}
-        >
-          {timelineToolbar}
-          <Timeline
+          <PlayerControls
+            onTogglePlay={togglePlay}
             onSeek={seek}
-            onDrillDown={handleDrillDown}
-            renderClipContent={renderClipContent}
+            timelineVisible={timelineVisible ?? true}
+            onToggleTimeline={onToggleTimeline}
           />
-          {timelineFooter}
         </div>
       </div>
+
+      {(timelineVisible ?? true) && (
+        <>
+          {/* Resize divider */}
+          <div
+            className="h-1 flex-shrink-0 bg-neutral-800 hover:bg-blue-500 cursor-row-resize transition-colors active:bg-blue-400 z-10"
+            style={{ touchAction: "none" }}
+            onPointerDown={handleDividerPointerDown}
+            onPointerMove={handleDividerPointerMove}
+            onPointerUp={handleDividerPointerUp}
+          />
+
+          {/* Timeline section — fixed height, resizable */}
+          <div className="flex flex-col flex-shrink-0" style={{ height: timelineH }}>
+            {/* Timeline tracks */}
+            <div
+              className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto bg-neutral-950"
+              onDoubleClick={(e) => {
+                if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest("[data-clip]")) return;
+                if (compositionStack.length > 1) {
+                  updateCompositionStack((prev) => prev.slice(0, -1));
+                }
+              }}
+            >
+              {timelineToolbar}
+              <Timeline
+                onSeek={seek}
+                onDrillDown={handleDrillDown}
+                renderClipContent={renderClipContent}
+              />
+              {timelineFooter}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 });
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
index 82c43decb..86a8a971d 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
@@ -8,11 +8,15 @@ const SPEED_OPTIONS = [0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2] as const;
 interface PlayerControlsProps {
   onTogglePlay: () => void;
   onSeek: (time: number) => void;
+  timelineVisible?: boolean;
+  onToggleTimeline?: () => void;
 }
 
 export const PlayerControls = memo(function PlayerControls({
   onTogglePlay,
   onSeek,
+  timelineVisible,
+  onToggleTimeline,
 }: PlayerControlsProps) {
   // Subscribe to only the fields we render — each selector prevents cascading re-renders
   const isPlaying = usePlayerStore((s) => s.isPlaying);
@@ -224,6 +228,33 @@ export const PlayerControls = memo(function PlayerControls({
           </div>
         )}
       </div>
+
+      {/* Timeline toggle */}
+      {onToggleTimeline !== undefined && (
+        <button
+          onClick={onToggleTimeline}
+          className={`w-7 h-7 flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border transition-colors ${
+            timelineVisible
+              ? "text-[#3CE6AC] bg-[#3CE6AC]/10 border-[#3CE6AC]/30"
+              : "border-neutral-700 text-neutral-500 hover:text-neutral-300 hover:bg-neutral-800"
+          }`}
+          title={timelineVisible ? "Hide timeline" : "Show timeline"}
+        >
+          <svg
+            width="13"
+            height="13"
+            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+            fill="none"
+            stroke="currentColor"
+            strokeWidth="2"
+            strokeLinecap="round"
+          >
+            <rect x="3" y="13" width="18" height="8" rx="1" />
+            <line x1="3" y1="9" x2="21" y2="9" />
+            <line x1="3" y1="5" x2="21" y2="5" />
+          </svg>
+        </button>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 });