diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d41d60b18..dbf0b63e1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -167,6 +167,11 @@ Here are all the available options:
     <td>The CSS theme to use.  See the <strong>CSS Integration</strong> section below for more info.</td>
     <td><code>html</code></td>
   </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>display_required_only</td>
+    <td>If <code>true</code>, JSON Editor will only display required JSON properties by default.</td>
+    <td><code>false</code></td>
+  </tr>
   </tbody>
 </table>
 
diff --git a/src/editors/object.js b/src/editors/object.js
index d3edd9996..81db18dc9 100644
--- a/src/editors/object.js
+++ b/src/editors/object.js
@@ -235,12 +235,21 @@ JSONEditor.defaults.editors.object = JSONEditor.AbstractEditor.extend({
     }
     // If the object should be rendered as a div
     else {
-      this.defaultProperties = this.schema.defaultProperties || Object.keys(this.schema.properties);
+      var includeKeys;
+      if(this.schema.defaultProperties) {
+        includeKeys = this.schema.defaultProperties;
+      }
+      else if(this.jsoneditor.options.display_required_only && this.schema.required) {
+        includeKeys = this.schema.required;
+      }
+      else {
+        Object.keys(this.schema.properties);
+      }
 
       // Increase the grid width to account for padding
       self.maxwidth += 1;
 
-      $each(this.defaultProperties, function(i,key) {
+      $each(includeKeys, function(i,key) {
         self.addObjectProperty(key, true);
 
         if(self.editors[key]) {