diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 73ffda0..25a70b2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ Then configure it as follows:
      - nodesource.node
 ```
 
+## NPM Packages
+
+Add in packages to the npm_packages variable to install npm packages.
+
+```yaml
+npm_packages:
+  - bower
+  - coffee-script
+```
+
 ## Testing
 
 To test this role using Docker:
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 9643b90..5aefeb5 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 ---
 # defaults file for nodejs
+
+npm_packages: []
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 92f0e59..f9df9ac 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -19,3 +19,7 @@
 
 - name: Install Node.js
   apt: pkg=nodejs state=installed update_cache=yes
+
+- name: Install npm packages
+  npm: name={{ item }} global=yes state=present
+  with_items: npm_packages