diff --git a/qtapputils/qthelpers.py b/qtapputils/qthelpers.py
index 2c89181..56615ab 100644
--- a/qtapputils/qthelpers.py
+++ b/qtapputils/qthelpers.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 """Qt utilities"""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Any, Optional
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
     from qtapputils.widgets.waitingspinner import WaitingSpinner
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@
 from math import pi
 
 # ---- Third party imports
-from qtpy.QtGui import QKeySequence
+from qtpy.QtGui import QKeySequence, QColor, QPalette
 from qtpy.QtCore import QByteArray, Qt, QSize, QEventLoop, QTimer
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
     QWidget, QSizePolicy, QToolButton, QApplication, QStyleFactory, QAction,
-    QToolBar)
+    QToolBar, QStyleOption)
 
 
 def qbytearray_to_hexstate(qba):
@@ -40,6 +40,85 @@ def hexstate_to_qbytearray(hexstate):
     return QByteArray().fromHex(str(hexstate).encode('utf-8'))
 
 
+def get_qcolor(color: QColor | tuple | list | str) -> QColor:
+    """
+    Return a QColor from various input formats:
+      - QColor instance (returned as is)
+      - RGB or RGBA tuple/list of ints (e.g. (r,g,b) or (r,g,b,a))
+      - RGB Hex string (e.g. '#FFAA00') or QPalette color role (e.g. 'window')
+      - Qt color name string (e.g. 'red', 'blue', 'lightgray')
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    color : QColor, tuple/list, or str
+        The color specification.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    QColor
+        The corresponding QColor object.
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    ValueError
+        If the color argument is not valid.
+    """
+    # QColor instance
+    if isinstance(color, QColor):
+        return color
+
+    # Tuple/list RGB(A)
+    if isinstance(color, (tuple, list)):
+        return QColor(*color)
+
+    # String: hex code or color name
+    if isinstance(color, str):
+        # Accept hex (with '#') or color name
+        if color.startswith('#') or color in QColor.colorNames():
+            return QColor(color)
+
+        try:
+            return getattr(QStyleOption().palette, color)().color()
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+
+        raise ValueError(f"Unknown color string: {color!r}")
+
+    raise ValueError(f"Cannot convert argument to QColor: {color!r}")
+
+
+def set_widget_palette(
+        widget: QWidget,
+        bgcolor: Optional[Any] = None,
+        fgcolor: Optional[Any] = None):
+    """
+    Set the background and foreground color of a QWidget.
+
+    If colors are None, keeps the current palette value. Also enables
+    autoFillBackground for proper background rendering on most widgets.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    widget : QWidget
+        The widget whose palette will be set.
+    bgcolor : optional
+        Background color specification (QColor, tuple/list, or str).
+    fgcolor : optional
+        Foreground color specification (QColor, tuple/list, or str).
+    """
+    palette = widget.palette()
+    if bgcolor is not None:
+        palette.setColor(widget.backgroundRole(), get_qcolor(bgcolor))
+
+        # Ensure background fills for most widgets.
+        widget.setAutoFillBackground(True)
+
+    if fgcolor is not None:
+        palette.setColor(widget.foregroundRole(), get_qcolor(fgcolor))
+
+    widget.setPalette(palette)
+
+
 def create_mainwindow_toolbar(
         title: str, iconsize: int = None, areas: int = Qt.TopToolBarArea,
         movable: bool = False, floatable: bool = False,
diff --git a/qtapputils/tests/test_qthelpers.py b/qtapputils/tests/test_qthelpers.py
index e0e9bd0..59a5675 100644
--- a/qtapputils/tests/test_qthelpers.py
+++ b/qtapputils/tests/test_qthelpers.py
@@ -14,11 +14,15 @@
 from itertools import product
 
 # ---- Third party imports
+from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QWidget
 from qtpy.QtCore import Qt, QTimer
+from qtpy.QtGui import QColor
 import pytest
 
 # ---- Local imports
-from qtapputils.qthelpers import format_tooltip, create_waitspinner, qtwait
+from qtapputils.qthelpers import (
+    format_tooltip, create_waitspinner, qtwait, get_qcolor,
+    set_widget_palette)
 
 
 # =============================================================================
@@ -140,5 +144,92 @@ def test_qtwait_timeout(qtbot):
     assert "Timeout reached!" in str(excinfo.value)
 
 
+def test_get_qcolor():
+    """
+    Test that get_qcolor correctly creates a QColor from various
+    input formats.
+    """
+    # Test from QColor.
+    color = QColor(10, 20, 30)
+    result = get_qcolor(color)
+    assert isinstance(result, QColor)
+    assert result == color
+
+    # Test from RGB tuple.
+    result = get_qcolor((100, 150, 200))
+    assert isinstance(result, QColor)
+    assert result.red() == 100
+    assert result.green() == 150
+    assert result.blue() == 200
+
+    # Test from RGBA list.
+    result = get_qcolor([10, 20, 30, 40])
+    assert isinstance(result, QColor)
+    assert result.red() == 10
+    assert result.green() == 20
+    assert result.blue() == 30
+    assert result.alpha() == 40
+
+    # Test from HEX string.
+    result = get_qcolor("#336699")
+    assert isinstance(result, QColor)
+    assert result.red() == 51
+    assert result.green() == 102
+    assert result.blue() == 153
+
+    # Test from color name.
+    result = get_qcolor("red")
+    assert isinstance(result, QColor)
+    assert result.red() == 255
+    assert result.green() == 0
+    assert result.blue() == 0
+
+    # Test from invalid string.
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        get_qcolor("notacolor")
+
+    # Test from invalid type.
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        get_qcolor(12345)
+
+
+def test_set_widget_palette(qtbot):
+    """
+    Test set_widget_palette for background, foreground, both, and None cases.
+    """
+    # Background only
+    widget = QWidget()
+    set_widget_palette(widget, bgcolor=(10, 20, 30))
+
+    bg_color = widget.palette().color(widget.backgroundRole())
+    assert isinstance(bg_color, QColor)
+    assert (bg_color.red(), bg_color.green(), bg_color.blue()) == (10, 20, 30)
+    assert widget.autoFillBackground() is True
+
+    # Foreground only
+    widget = QWidget()
+    set_widget_palette(widget, fgcolor="#FF00AA")
+
+    fg_color = widget.palette().color(widget.foregroundRole())
+    assert isinstance(fg_color, QColor)
+    assert (fg_color.red(), fg_color.green(), fg_color.blue()) == (255, 0, 170)
+
+    # Both background and foreground
+    widget = QWidget()
+    set_widget_palette(widget, bgcolor="blue", fgcolor="yellow")
+
+    bg_color = widget.palette().color(widget.backgroundRole())
+    fg_color = widget.palette().color(widget.foregroundRole())
+    assert (bg_color.red(), bg_color.green(), bg_color.blue()) == (0, 0, 255)
+    assert (fg_color.red(), fg_color.green(), fg_color.blue()) == (255, 255, 0)
+
+    # None for both
+    widget = QWidget()
+    orig_palette = widget.palette()
+    set_widget_palette(widget, bgcolor=None, fgcolor=None)
+
+    assert widget.palette() == orig_palette
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     pytest.main(['-x', __file__, '-v', '-rw'])