Index: src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellUtil.java
===================================================================
--- src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellUtil.java	(revision 1715581)
+++ src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/CellUtil.java	(working copy)
@@ -172,20 +172,18 @@
 	/**
 	 * This method attempt to find an already existing CellStyle that matches what you want the
 	 * style to be. If it does not find the style, then it creates a new one. If it does create a
-	 * new one, then it applies the propertyName and propertyValue to the style. This is necessary
-	 * because Excel has an upper limit on the number of Styles that it supports.
+	 * new one, then it applies the properties to the style. This is necessary because Excel has 
+	 * an upper limit on the number of Styles that it supports.
 	 *
 	 *@param workbook The workbook that is being worked with.
-	 *@param propertyName The name of the property that is to be changed.
-	 *@param propertyValue The value of the property that is to be changed.
+	 *@param properties A HashMap of properties to be added to a cell style.
 	 *@param cell The cell that needs it's style changes
 	 */
-	public static void setCellStyleProperty(Cell cell, Workbook workbook, String propertyName,
-			Object propertyValue) {
+	public static void setCellStyleProperty(Cell cell, Workbook workbook, Map<String, Object> properties) {
 		CellStyle originalStyle = cell.getCellStyle();
 		CellStyle newStyle = null;
 		Map<String, Object> values = getFormatProperties(originalStyle);
-		values.put(propertyName, propertyValue);
+		values.putAll(properties);
 
 		// index seems like what index the cellstyle is in the list of styles for a workbook.
 		// not good to compare on!
@@ -209,6 +207,24 @@
 		cell.setCellStyle(newStyle);
 	}
 
+    /**
+     * This method calls setCellStyleProperty(Cell, Workbook, Map<String, Object>) with a single
+     * property. If more than one property is to be set, it is better to call with a HashMap rather
+     * than a single property since each property added will search for a matching style and 
+     * potentially create an unnecessary intermediate CellStyle.
+     *
+     *@param workbook The workbook that is being worked with.
+     *@param propertyName The name of the property that is to be changed.
+     *@param propertyValue The value of the property that is to be changed.
+     *@param cell The cell that needs it's style changes
+     */
+    public static void setCellStyleProperty(Cell cell, Workbook workbook, String propertyName,
+            Object propertyValue) {
+        Map<String, Object> values = new HashMap<String, Object>();
+        values.put(propertyName, propertyValue);
+        setCellStyleProperty(cell, workbook, values);
+    }
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns a map containing the format properties of the given cell style.
 	 *