diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a6ac5f2..7cfb847 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ React-portal
 
 ## Features
 
-- transports its child into a new React component and appends it to the **document.body** (creates a new independent React tree)
+- transports its child into a new React component and appends it to specified DOM element (**document.body** by default)
+- creates a new independent React tree
 - can be opened by the prop **isOpened**
 - can be opened after a click on an element that you pass through the prop **openByClickOn** (and then it takes care of the open/close state)
 - doesn't leave any mess in DOM after closing
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ npm install react react-dom react-portal --save
 ```
 
 ## Usage
+
 ```jsx
 import React from 'react';
 import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
@@ -92,6 +94,9 @@ with `onClick` handler that triggers portal opening. **How to close the portal t
 
 ### Optional
 
+#### target: HTMLElement
+The element you want portal to be appended to.
+
 #### closeOnEsc: bool
 If true, the portal can be closed by the key ESC.
 
diff --git a/lib/portal.js b/lib/portal.js
index fcfb7cc..9f44981 100644
--- a/lib/portal.js
+++ b/lib/portal.js
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
     const resetPortalState = () => {
       if (this.node) {
         ReactDOM.unmountComponentAtNode(this.node);
-        document.body.removeChild(this.node);
+        (this.props.target || document.body).removeChild(this.node);
       }
       this.portal = null;
       this.node = null;
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ export default class Portal extends React.Component {
       this.node = document.createElement('div');
       // apply CSS before the node is added to the DOM to avoid needless reflows
       this.applyClassNameAndStyle(props);
-      document.body.appendChild(this.node);
+      (props.target || document.body).appendChild(this.node);
     } else {
       // update CSS when new props arrive
       this.applyClassNameAndStyle(props);
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ Portal.propTypes = {
   className: React.PropTypes.string,
   style: React.PropTypes.object,
   children: React.PropTypes.element.isRequired,
+  target: React.PropTypes.instanceOf(window.HTMLElement),
   openByClickOn: React.PropTypes.element,
   closeOnEsc: React.PropTypes.bool,
   closeOnOutsideClick: React.PropTypes.bool,
diff --git a/test/portal_spec.js b/test/portal_spec.js
index d634eca..2237438 100644
--- a/test/portal_spec.js
+++ b/test/portal_spec.js
@@ -29,13 +29,6 @@ describe('react-portal', () => {
     /*eslint-enable */
   });
 
-  it('should append portal with children to the document.body', () => {
-    const wrapper = mount(<Portal isOpened><p>Hi</p></Portal>);
-    assert.equal(wrapper.instance().node.firstElementChild.tagName, 'P');
-    assert.equal(document.body.lastElementChild, wrapper.instance().node);
-    assert.equal(document.body.childElementCount, 1);
-  });
-
   it('should open when this.openPortal() is called (used to programmatically open portal)', () => {
     const wrapper = mount(<Portal><p>Hi</p></Portal>);
     assert.equal(document.body.childElementCount, 0);
@@ -231,4 +224,39 @@ describe('react-portal', () => {
       assert.equal(document.body.childElementCount, 0);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('target', () => {
+    context('when target is not set', () => {
+      it('should append portal with children to the document.body', () => {
+        const wrapper = mount(<Portal isOpened><p>Hi</p></Portal>);
+        assert.equal(wrapper.instance().node.firstElementChild.tagName, 'P');
+        assert.equal(document.body.lastElementChild, wrapper.instance().node);
+        assert.equal(document.body.childElementCount, 1);
+      });
+    });
+
+    context('when target is set', () => {
+      context('when layer passed to component as a prop', () => {
+        it('should append portal with children to the target', () => {
+          const modalLayer = document.createElement('div');
+          document.body.appendChild(modalLayer);
+
+          const wrapper = mount(<Portal isOpened target={modalLayer}><p>Hi</p></Portal>);
+          assert.equal(modalLayer.getElementsByTagName('p')[0].textContent, 'Hi');
+          assert.equal(modalLayer.lastElementChild, wrapper.instance().node);
+          assert.equal(modalLayer.childElementCount, 1);
+        });
+
+        it('should remove portal from the target when isOpened set to false', () => {
+          const modalLayer = document.createElement('div');
+          document.body.appendChild(modalLayer);
+
+          const wrapper = mount(<Portal isOpened target={modalLayer}><p>Hi</p></Portal>);
+          assert.equal(modalLayer.getElementsByTagName('p')[0].textContent, 'Hi');
+          wrapper.setProps({ isOpened: false });
+          assert(!modalLayer.getElementsByTagName('p')[0]);
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });