diff --git a/solara/components/file_drop.py b/solara/components/file_drop.py
index 605f7542b..027caa2cc 100644
--- a/solara/components/file_drop.py
+++ b/solara/components/file_drop.py
@@ -10,6 +10,25 @@
 
 import solara
 import solara.hooks as hooks
+from solara.lab import theme, use_dark_effective
+
+
+@solara.component
+def FileHoverIndicator():
+    dark_theme = use_dark_effective()
+    border_color = theme.themes.dark.success if dark_theme else theme.themes.light.success
+    with solara.Row(
+        justify="center",
+        style={
+            "height": "100%",
+            "width": "100%",
+            "align-items": "center",
+            "border-radius": "8px",
+            "border": f"2px dashed {border_color}",
+        },
+    ):
+        solara.v.Icon(children=["mdi-upload"], size="48px")
+        solara.HTML(tag="h3", unsafe_innerHTML="Drop file here")
 
 
 class FileInfo(TypedDict):
@@ -23,6 +42,8 @@ class FileDropZone(FileInput):
     # override to narrow traitlet of FileInput
     template = traitlets.Instance(Template).tag(sync=True, **widget_serialization)
     template_file = (__file__, "file_drop.vue")
+    children = traitlets.List(cast(List[solara.Element], [])).tag(sync=True, **widget_serialization)
+    file_hover_indicator = traitlets.Any(allow_none=True).tag(sync=True, **widget_serialization)
     items = traitlets.List(default_value=cast(List[Any], [])).tag(sync=True)
     label = traitlets.Unicode().tag(sync=True)
     multiple = traitlets.Bool(True).tag(sync=True)
@@ -35,6 +56,8 @@ def _FileDrop(
     on_file: Optional[Callable[[Union[FileInfo, List[FileInfo]]], None]] = None,
     lazy: bool = True,
     multiple: bool = False,
+    children: List[solara.Element] = [],
+    file_hover_indicator: Optional[solara.Element] = None,
 ):
     """Generic implementation used by FileDrop and FileDropMultiple.
 
@@ -44,7 +67,14 @@ def _FileDrop(
     file_info, set_file_info = solara.use_state(None)
     wired_files, set_wired_files = solara.use_state(cast(Optional[typing.List[FileInfo]], None))
 
-    file_drop = FileDropZone.element(label=label, on_total_progress=on_total_progress, on_file_info=set_file_info, multiple=multiple)  # type: ignore
+    file_drop = FileDropZone.element(
+        label=label,
+        on_total_progress=on_total_progress,
+        on_file_info=set_file_info,
+        multiple=multiple,
+        children=children,
+        file_hover_indicator=file_hover_indicator,
+    )
 
     def wire_files():
         if not file_info:
@@ -87,6 +117,8 @@ def FileDrop(
     on_total_progress: Optional[Callable[[float], None]] = None,
     on_file: Optional[Callable[[FileInfo], None]] = None,
     lazy: bool = True,
+    children: List[solara.Element] = [],
+    file_hover_indicator: Optional[solara.Element] = FileHoverIndicator(),
 ):
     """Region a user can drop a file into for file uploading.
 
@@ -110,6 +142,9 @@ class FileInfo(typing.TypedDict):
      * `on_file`: Will be called with a `FileInfo` object, which contains the file `.name`, `.length` and a `.file_obj` object.
      * `lazy`: Whether to load the file contents into memory or not. If `False`,
         the file contents will be loaded into memory via the `.data` attribute of file object(s).
+     * `children`: Elements to display inside the file drop zone. These will override the default drop zone.
+     * `file_hover_indicator`: Element to display when a file is hovered over the drop zone. The container of
+        this element is absolutely positioned over the whole area of the drop zone.
 
     ## Load into Pandas
     To load the data into a Pandas DF, set `lazy=False` and use `file['file_obj']` (be careful of memory)<br>
@@ -133,7 +168,15 @@ def load_file_df(file):
 
     """
 
-    return _FileDrop(label=label, on_total_progress=on_total_progress, on_file=on_file, lazy=lazy, multiple=False)
+    return _FileDrop(
+        label=label,
+        on_total_progress=on_total_progress,
+        on_file=on_file,
+        lazy=lazy,
+        multiple=False,
+        children=children,
+        file_hover_indicator=file_hover_indicator,
+    )
 
 
 @solara.component
@@ -142,6 +185,8 @@ def FileDropMultiple(
     on_total_progress: Optional[Callable[[float], None]] = None,
     on_file: Optional[Callable[[List[FileInfo]], None]] = None,
     lazy: bool = True,
+    children: List[solara.Element] = [],
+    file_hover_indicator: Optional[solara.Element] = FileHoverIndicator(),
 ):
     """Region a user can drop multiple files into for file uploading.
 
@@ -153,7 +198,18 @@ def FileDropMultiple(
      * `on_file`: Will be called with a `List[FileInfo]`.
         Each `FileInfo` contains the file `.name`, `.length`, `.file_obj` object, and `.data` attributes.
      * `lazy`: Whether to load the file contents into memory or not.
+     * `children`: Elements to display inside the file drop zone. These will override the default drop zone.
+     * `file_hover_indicator`: Element to display when a file is hovered over the drop zone. The container of
+        this element is absolutely positioned over the whole area of the drop zone.
 
     """
 
-    return _FileDrop(label=label, on_total_progress=on_total_progress, on_file=on_file, lazy=lazy, multiple=True)
+    return _FileDrop(
+        label=label,
+        on_total_progress=on_total_progress,
+        on_file=on_file,
+        lazy=lazy,
+        multiple=True,
+        children=children,
+        file_hover_indicator=file_hover_indicator,
+    )
diff --git a/solara/components/file_drop.vue b/solara/components/file_drop.vue
index 3d94c16a0..9fd9581b7 100644
--- a/solara/components/file_drop.vue
+++ b/solara/components/file_drop.vue
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
 <template>
-  <div ref="dropzone" class="solara-file-drop" effectAllowed="move">
-    <template v-if="file_info && file_info.length > 0">
-      <template v-if="multiple">
-        <div v-for="file in file_info">
-          {{ file.name }}
-        </div>
-      </template>
-      <template v-else>
-        {{ file_info[0].name }}
-      </template>
+  <div ref="dropzone" effectAllowed="move" style="position: relative;">
+    <div ref="dropIndicator" style="display: none; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; z-index: 31;">
+      <jupyter-widget v-if="file_hover_indicator" :widget="file_hover_indicator"></jupyter-widget>
+    </div>
+    <template v-if="children && children.length > 0">
+      <jupyter-widget v-for="child in children" :widget="child" :key="child.model_id"></jupyter-widget>
     </template>
     <template v-else>
-      {{ label }}
+      <!-- Default content -->
+       <div class="solara-file-drop">
+        <template v-if="file_info && file_info.length > 0">
+          <template v-if="multiple">
+            <div v-for="file in file_info">
+              {{ file.name }}
+            </div>
+          </template>
+          <template v-else>
+            {{ file_info[0].name }}
+          </template>
+        </template>
+        <template v-else>
+          {{ label }}
+        </template>
+      </div>
     </template>
   </div>
 </template>
@@ -21,7 +32,12 @@ module.exports = {
   mounted() {
     this.chunk_size = 2 * 1024 * 1024;
     this.$refs.dropzone.addEventListener('dragover', event => {
-      event.preventDefault();
+      this.$refs.dropIndicator.style.display = 'unset';
+    });
+    this.$refs.dropzone.addEventListener('dragleave', event => {
+      if (!event.relatedTarget || !this.$refs.dropzone.contains(event.relatedTarget)) {
+        this.$refs.dropIndicator.style.display = 'none';
+      }
     });
 
     this.$refs.dropzone.addEventListener('drop', async event => {
diff --git a/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/input/file_drop.py b/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/input/file_drop.py
index 68c6b06f4..aba10c800 100644
--- a/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/input/file_drop.py
+++ b/solara/website/pages/documentation/components/input/file_drop.py
@@ -74,3 +74,27 @@ def Page():
 __doc__ += apidoc(solara.FileDrop.f)  # type: ignore
 __doc__ += "# FileDropMultiple"
 __doc__ += apidoc(solara.FileDropMultiple.f)  # type: ignore
+__doc__ += """# Customization Example
+
+```solara
+import solara
+
+@solara.component
+def CustomHoverIndicator():
+    style = {"height": "100%", "width": "100%", "align-items": "center", "border": "2px dashed limegreen", "opacity": "0.85"}
+    with solara.Row(justify="center", style=style):
+        solara.HTML(tag="h3", unsafe_innerHTML="Drop file here")
+        solara.SpinnerSolara()
+
+@solara.component
+def Page():
+    number_of_files = solara.use_reactive(1)
+
+    with solara.FileDropMultiple(file_hover_indicator=CustomHoverIndicator()):
+        with solara.Card("Upload your file(s) here"):
+            solara.InputInt("Number of files", value=number_of_files)
+            for i in range(number_of_files.value):
+                solara.InputText("File name")
+
+```
+"""