diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
index 660fcec..e0d5039 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
@@ -1102,11 +1102,21 @@ pub fn set_general_settings(
     enable_wiki_links: bool,
     show_note_dates: bool,
     restore_last_session: bool,
+    show_all_notes: bool,
+    show_quick_access: bool,
+    show_tasks: bool,
+    show_daily_notes: bool,
+    show_trash: bool,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     let mut config = state.config.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
     config.compact_notes = compact_notes;
     config.show_note_dates = show_note_dates;
     config.restore_last_session = restore_last_session;
+    config.show_all_notes = show_all_notes;
+    config.show_quick_access = show_quick_access;
+    config.show_tasks = show_tasks;
+    config.show_daily_notes = show_daily_notes;
+    config.show_trash = show_trash;
     config.time_format = time_format;
     config.week_start = week_start;
     config.daily_title_format = daily_title_format;
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/types.rs b/src-tauri/src/types.rs
index c3b4331..ac0f8f2 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/types.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/types.rs
@@ -99,6 +99,16 @@ pub struct AppConfig {
     pub show_line_numbers: bool,
     #[serde(default = "default_true")]
     pub show_link_arrows: bool,
+    #[serde(default = "default_true")]
+    pub show_all_notes: bool,
+    #[serde(default = "default_true")]
+    pub show_quick_access: bool,
+    #[serde(default = "default_true")]
+    pub show_tasks: bool,
+    #[serde(default = "default_true")]
+    pub show_daily_notes: bool,
+    #[serde(default = "default_true")]
+    pub show_trash: bool,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub backup_enabled: bool,
     #[serde(default = "default_backup_frequency")]
@@ -221,6 +231,11 @@ impl Default for AppConfig {
             hide_title_in_body: false,
             show_line_numbers: false,
             show_link_arrows: true,
+            show_all_notes: true,
+            show_quick_access: true,
+            show_tasks: true,
+            show_daily_notes: true,
+            show_trash: true,
             backup_enabled: false,
             backup_frequency: "24h".to_string(),
             backup_max_count: 10,
diff --git a/src/lib/api.ts b/src/lib/api.ts
index 01aad83..86677d4 100644
--- a/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -239,6 +239,11 @@ export async function setGeneralSettings(
   enableWikiLinks: boolean,
   showNoteDates: boolean,
   restoreLastSession: boolean,
+  showAllNotes: boolean,
+  showQuickAccess: boolean,
+  showTasks: boolean,
+  showDailyNotes: boolean,
+  showTrash: boolean,
 ): Promise<void> {
   return invoke("set_general_settings", {
     compactNotes,
@@ -259,6 +264,11 @@ export async function setGeneralSettings(
     enableWikiLinks,
     showNoteDates,
     restoreLastSession,
+    showAllNotes,
+    showQuickAccess,
+    showTasks,
+    showDailyNotes,
+    showTrash,
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/components/CommandPalette.svelte b/src/lib/components/CommandPalette.svelte
index 204dee4..594012a 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/CommandPalette.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/CommandPalette.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { showCommandPalette, showSearch, theme, sourceMode } from '$lib/stores/app';
+	import { showCommandPalette, showSearch, theme, sourceMode, viewMode, activeNotebook, activeTag } from '$lib/stores/app';
 	import { setTheme, reindex } from '$lib/api';
 	import { darkThemes } from '$lib/platform';
 
@@ -26,6 +26,16 @@
 				$showSearch = true;
 			}
 		},
+		{
+			id: 'open-trash',
+			label: 'Open Trash (restore deleted notes)',
+			action: () => {
+				$viewMode = 'trash';
+				$activeNotebook = null;
+				$activeTag = null;
+				$showCommandPalette = false;
+			}
+		},
 		{
 			id: 'theme-light',
 			label: 'Switch to Light Theme',
diff --git a/src/lib/components/SettingsPanel.svelte b/src/lib/components/SettingsPanel.svelte
index 35ec4f0..1625b81 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/SettingsPanel.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/SettingsPanel.svelte
@@ -522,6 +522,13 @@
 	let closeToTray = $state($appConfig?.close_to_tray ?? false);
 	let enableWikiLinks = $state($appConfig?.enable_wiki_links ?? true);
 
+	// Sidebar item visibility
+	let showAllNotes = $state($appConfig?.show_all_notes ?? true);
+	let showQuickAccess = $state($appConfig?.show_quick_access ?? true);
+	let showTasks = $state($appConfig?.show_tasks ?? true);
+	let showDailyNotes = $state($appConfig?.show_daily_notes ?? true);
+	let showTrash = $state($appConfig?.show_trash ?? true);
+
 	const pdfHeightPresets = [
 		{ label: 'Small', value: 300 },
 		{ label: 'Medium', value: 450 },
@@ -579,8 +586,13 @@
 			$appConfig.show_tray_icon = showTrayIcon;
 			$appConfig.close_to_tray = closeToTray;
 			$appConfig.enable_wiki_links = enableWikiLinks;
+			$appConfig.show_all_notes = showAllNotes;
+			$appConfig.show_quick_access = showQuickAccess;
+			$appConfig.show_tasks = showTasks;
+			$appConfig.show_daily_notes = showDailyNotes;
+			$appConfig.show_trash = showTrash;
 			}
-			setGeneralSettings(compactNotes, timeFormat, weekStart, dailyTitleFormat, gpuAcceleration, autostart, pdfPreview, pdfHeight, titleMode, hideTitleInBody, showLineNumbers, showLinkArrows, defaultViewMode, showTrayIcon, closeToTray, enableWikiLinks, showNoteDates, restoreLastSession)
+			setGeneralSettings(compactNotes, timeFormat, weekStart, dailyTitleFormat, gpuAcceleration, autostart, pdfPreview, pdfHeight, titleMode, hideTitleInBody, showLineNumbers, showLinkArrows, defaultViewMode, showTrayIcon, closeToTray, enableWikiLinks, showNoteDates, restoreLastSession, showAllNotes, showQuickAccess, showTasks, showDailyNotes, showTrash)
 			.catch((e) => console.error('Failed to save general settings:', e));
 	}
 
@@ -769,6 +781,11 @@
 			pdfPreview = $appConfig.pdf_preview ?? false;
 			pdfHeight = $appConfig.pdf_height ?? 600;
 			titleMode = $appConfig.title_mode ?? 'input';
+			showAllNotes = $appConfig.show_all_notes ?? true;
+			showQuickAccess = $appConfig.show_quick_access ?? true;
+			showTasks = $appConfig.show_tasks ?? true;
+			showDailyNotes = $appConfig.show_daily_notes ?? true;
+			showTrash = $appConfig.show_trash ?? true;
 		}
 	});
 
@@ -892,6 +909,46 @@
 								</div>
 							</div>
 
+							{#if !isMobile}
+							<div class="settings-section">
+								<h3>Sidebar</h3>
+								<p class="setting-desc" style="margin: 0 0 10px;">Hide navigation items you don't use. The notebook tree always stays.</p>
+								<label class="setting-toggle">
+									<span class="setting-label"><span class="setting-name">All Notes</span></span>
+									<button class="toggle-switch" class:on={showAllNotes} onclick={() => { showAllNotes = !showAllNotes; saveGeneralSettings(); }}>
+										<span class="toggle-knob"></span>
+									</button>
+								</label>
+								<label class="setting-toggle">
+									<span class="setting-label"><span class="setting-name">Quick Access</span></span>
+									<button class="toggle-switch" class:on={showQuickAccess} onclick={() => { showQuickAccess = !showQuickAccess; saveGeneralSettings(); }}>
+										<span class="toggle-knob"></span>
+									</button>
+								</label>
+								<label class="setting-toggle">
+									<span class="setting-label"><span class="setting-name">Tasks</span></span>
+									<button class="toggle-switch" class:on={showTasks} onclick={() => { showTasks = !showTasks; saveGeneralSettings(); }}>
+										<span class="toggle-knob"></span>
+									</button>
+								</label>
+								<label class="setting-toggle">
+									<span class="setting-label"><span class="setting-name">Daily Notes</span></span>
+									<button class="toggle-switch" class:on={showDailyNotes} onclick={() => { showDailyNotes = !showDailyNotes; saveGeneralSettings(); }}>
+										<span class="toggle-knob"></span>
+									</button>
+								</label>
+								<label class="setting-toggle">
+									<span class="setting-label">
+										<span class="setting-name">Trash</span>
+										<span class="setting-desc">Deleted notes stay recoverable from the command palette (Ctrl/Cmd+P → Open Trash).</span>
+									</span>
+									<button class="toggle-switch" class:on={showTrash} onclick={() => { showTrash = !showTrash; saveGeneralSettings(); }}>
+										<span class="toggle-knob"></span>
+									</button>
+								</label>
+							</div>
+							{/if}
+
 							<div class="settings-section">
 								<h3>Time Format</h3>
 								<div class="setting-options">
diff --git a/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte b/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
index 9b518d4..b094161 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
@@ -34,6 +34,16 @@
 	const modKey = navigator.platform.startsWith('Mac') ? '⌘' : 'Ctrl';
 	const isMobile = /android|iphone|ipad|ipod/i.test(navigator.userAgent);
 
+	// Whether any top nav item (All Notes, Quick Access, Tasks, Daily Notes, Trash) is visible.
+	// When all are hidden we drop the empty <nav> and its divider so the tree sits flush.
+	const anyNavItem = $derived(
+		$appConfig?.show_all_notes !== false ||
+		$appConfig?.show_quick_access !== false ||
+		$appConfig?.show_tasks !== false ||
+		$appConfig?.show_daily_notes !== false ||
+		$appConfig?.show_trash !== false
+	);
+
 	let editingNotebook = $state<string | null>(null);
 	let editValue = $state('');
 	let renameInput: HTMLInputElement | null = $state(null);
@@ -568,7 +578,7 @@
 
 <svelte:window onclick={handleWindowClick} />
 
-<aside class="sidebar" class:collapsed={$sidebarCollapsed} class:mobile={isMobile} ondblclick={startNewNotebookFromSidebar}>
+<aside class="sidebar" class:collapsed={$sidebarCollapsed} class:mobile={isMobile} class:nav-empty={!anyNavItem} ondblclick={startNewNotebookFromSidebar}>
 	{#if !isMobile}
 	<div class="sidebar-header">
 		<button class="collapse-btn" onclick={() => ($sidebarCollapsed = !$sidebarCollapsed)} title="Toggle sidebar">
@@ -592,7 +602,9 @@
 	{/if}
 
 	{#if !$sidebarCollapsed}
+		{#if anyNavItem}
 		<nav class="sidebar-nav">
+			{#if $appConfig?.show_all_notes !== false}
 			<button
 				class="nav-item"
 				class:active={$viewMode === 'all'}
@@ -604,7 +616,9 @@
 				</svg>
 				<span>All Notes</span>
 			</button>
+			{/if}
 
+			{#if $appConfig?.show_quick_access !== false}
 			<button
 				class="nav-item"
 				class:active={$viewMode === 'quickaccess'}
@@ -615,7 +629,9 @@
 				</svg>
 				<span>Quick Access</span>
 			</button>
+			{/if}
 
+			{#if $appConfig?.show_tasks !== false}
 			<button
 				class="nav-item"
 				class:active={$viewMode === 'tasks'}
@@ -627,7 +643,9 @@
 				</svg>
 				<span>Tasks</span>
 			</button>
+			{/if}
 
+			{#if $appConfig?.show_daily_notes !== false}
 			<button
 				class="nav-item"
 				class:active={$viewMode === 'daily'}
@@ -641,7 +659,9 @@
 				</svg>
 				<span>Daily Notes</span>
 			</button>
+			{/if}
 
+			{#if $appConfig?.show_trash !== false}
 			<button
 				class="nav-item"
 				class:active={$viewMode === 'trash'}
@@ -653,7 +673,9 @@
 				</svg>
 				<span>Trash</span>
 			</button>
+			{/if}
 		</nav>
+		{/if}
 
 		<div class="section">
 			<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
@@ -1031,6 +1053,12 @@
 		border-top: 1px solid var(--border-light);
 	}
 
+	/* With the top nav hidden, the header's border-bottom is the only divider needed -
+	   drop the section's border-top so there's no doubled line under the header. */
+	.sidebar.nav-empty .section {
+		border-top: none;
+	}
+
 	/* Pin the Notebooks header so its collapse/expand-all button stays reachable while the tree
 	   scrolls; the section's border-top draws the divider above it, matching the Tags section. (issue #126) */
 	.section > .section-header {
diff --git a/src/lib/types.ts b/src/lib/types.ts
index f491bf8..20327c6 100644
--- a/src/lib/types.ts
+++ b/src/lib/types.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ export interface AppConfig {
   hide_title_in_body: boolean;
   show_line_numbers: boolean;
   show_link_arrows: boolean;
+  show_all_notes: boolean;
+  show_quick_access: boolean;
+  show_tasks: boolean;
+  show_daily_notes: boolean;
+  show_trash: boolean;
   backup_enabled: boolean;
   backup_frequency: string;
   backup_max_count: number;