diff --git a/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in b/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in
index 9712fdaf7dc..4280e10733e 100644
--- a/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in
+++ b/python/gui/auto_generated/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.sip.in
@@ -62,6 +62,35 @@ Returns the designer's message bar.
 Selects the specified ``items``.
 %End
 
+    virtual void setAtlasPreviewEnabled( bool enabled ) = 0;
+%Docstring
+Toggles whether the atlas preview mode should be ``enabled`` in the designer.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`atlasPreviewModeEnabled`
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.4
+%End
+
+    virtual bool atlasPreviewEnabled() const = 0;
+%Docstring
+Returns whether the atlas preview mode is enabled in the designer.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`setAtlasPreviewEnabled`
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.4
+%End
+
+    virtual void showItemOptions( QgsLayoutItem *item, bool bringPanelToFront = true ) = 0;
+%Docstring
+Shows the configuration widget for the specified layout ``item``.
+
+If ``bringPanelToFront`` is true, then the item properties panel will be automatically
+shown and raised to the top of the interface.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.4
+%End
+
+
   public slots:
 
     virtual void close() = 0;
diff --git a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp
index ccdd89f51fb..350291264fb 100644
--- a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,21 @@ void QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::selectItems( const QList<QgsLayoutItem *> &i
   mDesigner->selectItems( items );
 }
 
+void QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::setAtlasPreviewEnabled( bool enabled )
+{
+  mDesigner->setAtlasPreviewEnabled( enabled );
+}
+
+bool QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::atlasPreviewEnabled() const
+{
+  return mDesigner->atlasPreviewEnabled();
+}
+
+void QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::showItemOptions( QgsLayoutItem *item, bool bringPanelToFront )
+{
+  mDesigner->showItemOptions( item, bringPanelToFront );
+}
+
 void QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface::close()
 {
   mDesigner->close();
@@ -4315,6 +4330,17 @@ QgsMessageBar *QgsLayoutDesignerDialog::messageBar()
   return mMessageBar;
 }
 
+void QgsLayoutDesignerDialog::setAtlasPreviewEnabled( bool enabled )
+{
+  whileBlocking( mActionAtlasPreview )->setChecked( enabled );
+  atlasPreviewTriggered( enabled );
+}
+
+bool QgsLayoutDesignerDialog::atlasPreviewEnabled() const
+{
+  return mActionAtlasPreview->isChecked();
+}
+
 void QgsLayoutDesignerDialog::setAtlasFeature( QgsMapLayer *layer, const QgsFeature &feat )
 {
   QgsLayoutAtlas *layoutAtlas = atlas();
diff --git a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h
index 787912a9f97..34fb94c73ae 100644
--- a/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h
+++ b/src/app/layout/qgslayoutdesignerdialog.h
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ class QgsAppLayoutDesignerInterface : public QgsLayoutDesignerInterface
     QgsLayoutView *view() override;
     QgsMessageBar *messageBar() override;
     void selectItems( const QList< QgsLayoutItem * > &items ) override;
-
+    void setAtlasPreviewEnabled( bool enabled ) override;
+    bool atlasPreviewEnabled() const override;
+    void showItemOptions( QgsLayoutItem *item, bool bringPanelToFront = true ) override;
   public slots:
 
     void close() override;
@@ -139,6 +141,21 @@ class QgsLayoutDesignerDialog: public QMainWindow, private Ui::QgsLayoutDesigner
      */
     QgsMessageBar *messageBar();
 
+
+    /**
+     * Toggles whether the atlas preview mode should be \a enabled in the designer.
+     *
+     * \see atlasPreviewModeEnabled()
+     */
+    void setAtlasPreviewEnabled( bool enabled );
+
+    /**
+     * Returns whether the atlas preview mode is enabled in the designer.
+     *
+     * \see setAtlasPreviewEnabled()
+     */
+    bool atlasPreviewEnabled() const;
+
     /**
      * Sets the specified feature as the current atlas feature
      */
diff --git a/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h b/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h
index 93817b7eb48..1cb9280adb4 100644
--- a/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/layout/qgslayoutdesignerinterface.h
@@ -78,6 +78,33 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsLayoutDesignerInterface: public QObject
      */
     virtual void selectItems( const QList< QgsLayoutItem * > &items ) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Toggles whether the atlas preview mode should be \a enabled in the designer.
+     *
+     * \see atlasPreviewModeEnabled()
+     * \since QGIS 3.4
+     */
+    virtual void setAtlasPreviewEnabled( bool enabled ) = 0;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns whether the atlas preview mode is enabled in the designer.
+     *
+     * \see setAtlasPreviewEnabled()
+     * \since QGIS 3.4
+     */
+    virtual bool atlasPreviewEnabled() const = 0;
+
+    /**
+     * Shows the configuration widget for the specified layout \a item.
+     *
+     * If \a bringPanelToFront is true, then the item properties panel will be automatically
+     * shown and raised to the top of the interface.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.4
+     */
+    virtual void showItemOptions( QgsLayoutItem *item, bool bringPanelToFront = true ) = 0;
+
+
   public slots:
 
     /**