diff --git a/sys/include/color.h b/sys/include/color.h
index 8612e898b9..63a204bfe6 100644
--- a/sys/include/color.h
+++ b/sys/include/color.h
@@ -127,6 +127,45 @@ static inline void color_rgb_invert(const color_rgb_t *rgb, color_rgb_t *inv_rgb
     inv_rgb->b = rgb->b ^ 0xFF;
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Shifts a given rgb color to change it's brightness
+ *
+ * @pre                 ((rgb != NULL) && (out != NULL))
+ *
+ * @param[in] rgb       Input rgb color, that should be shifted. Must be NOT NULL
+ * @param[out] out      Output rgb color, result of the shift. Must be NOT NULL
+ * @param[in] shift     Amount by which the color components should be shifted.
+ *                      May be positive (shift to left) or negative (shift to right).
+ */
+static inline void color_rgb_shift(const color_rgb_t *rgb, color_rgb_t *out, int8_t shift)
+{
+    if (shift > 0) {
+        out->r = rgb->r << shift;
+        out->g = rgb->g << shift;
+        out->b = rgb->b << shift;
+    } else {
+        out->r = rgb->r >> -shift;
+        out->g = rgb->g >> -shift;
+        out->b = rgb->b >> -shift;
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * @brief Change the brightness of a RGB color by multiplying it with a set factor.
+ *
+ * @pre                 ((rgb != NULL) && (out != NULL))
+ *
+ * @param[in] rgb       Input rgb color, that should be multiplied. Must be NOT NULL
+ * @param[out] out      Output rgb color. Must be NOT NULL
+ * @param[in] level     New brightness level. 255 = Full Brightness, 0 = Off.
+ */
+static inline void color_rgb_set_brightness(const color_rgb_t *rgb, color_rgb_t *out, uint8_t level)
+{
+    out->r = ((unsigned)rgb->r * level + 128) >> 8;
+    out->g = ((unsigned)rgb->g * level + 128) >> 8;
+    out->b = ((unsigned)rgb->b * level + 128) >> 8;
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief Calculate the complementary color of a given rgb color.
  *
diff --git a/tests/driver_ws281x/main.c b/tests/driver_ws281x/main.c
index 21575846ab..fc6e0d20e4 100644
--- a/tests/driver_ws281x/main.c
+++ b/tests/driver_ws281x/main.c
@@ -73,24 +73,18 @@ int main(void)
         puts("Animation: Fading rainbow...");
         last_wakeup = xtimer_now();
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < RAINBOW_LEN; i++) {
-            for (unsigned j = 0; j < 100; j++) {
-                color_rgb_t col = {
-                    .r = (uint8_t)(((unsigned)rainbow[i].r * j + 50) / 100),
-                    .g = (uint8_t)(((unsigned)rainbow[i].g * j + 50) / 100),
-                    .b = (uint8_t)(((unsigned)rainbow[i].b * j + 50) / 100),
-                };
+            for (unsigned j = 0; j < 255; j++) {
+                color_rgb_t col;
+                color_rgb_set_brightness(&rainbow[i], &col, j);
                 for (uint16_t k = 0; k < dev.params.numof; k++) {
                     ws281x_set(&dev, k, col);
                 }
                 ws281x_write(&dev);
                 xtimer_periodic_wakeup(&last_wakeup, 10 * US_PER_MS);
             }
-            for (unsigned j = 100; j > 0; j--) {
-                color_rgb_t col = {
-                    .r = (uint8_t)(((unsigned)rainbow[i].r * j + 50) / 100),
-                    .g = (uint8_t)(((unsigned)rainbow[i].g * j + 50) / 100),
-                    .b = (uint8_t)(((unsigned)rainbow[i].b * j + 50) / 100),
-                };
+            for (unsigned j = 255; j > 0; j--) {
+                color_rgb_t col;
+                color_rgb_set_brightness(&rainbow[i], &col, j);
                 for (uint16_t k = 0; k < dev.params.numof; k++) {
                     ws281x_set(&dev, k, col);
                 }