diff --git a/gooey/gui/model.py b/gooey/gui/model.py
index 9973ad3..53462c1 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/model.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/model.py
@@ -160,6 +160,9 @@ class MyModel(object):
     self.argument_groups = self.wrap(self.build_spec.get('widgets', {}))
     self.active_group = iter(self.argument_groups).next()
 
+    self.num_required_cols = self.build_spec['num_required_cols']
+    self.num_optional_cols = self.build_spec['num_optional_cols']
+
     self.text_states = {
       States.CONFIGURING: {
         'title': _("settings_title"),
diff --git a/gooey/gui/presenter.py b/gooey/gui/presenter.py
index a932491..474abe7 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/presenter.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/presenter.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ class Presenter(object):
 
     self.view.required_section.clear()
     self.view.optional_section.clear()
-    self.view.required_section.populate(self.model.required_args)
-    self.view.optional_section.populate(self.model.optional_args)
+    self.view.required_section.populate(self.model.required_args, self.model.num_required_cols)
+    self.view.optional_section.populate(self.model.optional_args, self.model.num_optional_cols)
 
     if self.model.use_monospace_font:
       self.view.set_display_font_style('monospace')
diff --git a/gooey/gui/windows/advanced_config.py b/gooey/gui/windows/advanced_config.py
index ff35227..8d38884 100644
--- a/gooey/gui/windows/advanced_config.py
+++ b/gooey/gui/windows/advanced_config.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class WidgetContainer(wx.Panel):
     self.container = wx.BoxSizer(wx.VERTICAL)
     self.SetSizer(self.container)
 
-  def layout(self):
+  def layout(self, num_columns):
     STD_LAYOUT = (0, wx.LEFT | wx.RIGHT | wx.EXPAND, PADDING)
 
     if self.title:
@@ -41,15 +41,15 @@ class WidgetContainer(wx.Panel):
       self.container.AddSpacer(5)
       self.container.Add(wx_util.horizontal_rule(self), *STD_LAYOUT)
       self.container.AddSpacer(20)
-      self.create_component_grid(self.container, self.widgets, cols=2)
+      self.create_component_grid(self.container, self.widgets, cols=num_columns)
       self.container.AddSpacer(10)
 
-  def populate(self, widgets):
+  def populate(self, widgets, num_columns):
     for index, widget in enumerate(widgets):
       widget_class = getattr(components, widget.type)
       widget_instance = widget_class(self, widget.title, widget.help, widget.choices)
       self.widgets.append(widget_instance)
-    self.layout()
+    self.layout(num_columns)
 
   def get_values(self):
     return [x.get_value() for x in self.widgets]