Require this script (require 'indent-guide) and call command "M-x indent-guide-mode". If you want to enable indent-guide-mode automatically, call "indent-guide-global-mode" function. (indent-guide-global-mode) Column lines are propertized with "indent-guide-face". So you may configure this face to make guides more pretty in your colorscheme. (set-face-background 'indent-guide-face "dimgray") You may also change the character for guides. (setq indent-guide-char ":")