diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index a6c1bbc..03c440a 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <meta name="mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes" />
     <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black-translucent" />
     <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="MCTerm" />
-    <meta name="theme-color" content="#0a0a0a" />
+    <meta name="theme-color" content="#111419" />
     <meta name="description" content="Web interface for MeshCore mesh radio networks. Send and receive messages, manage contacts and channels, and configure your radio." />
     <title>RemoteTerm for MeshCore</title>
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-96x96.png" sizes="96x96" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 6389498..6487d2f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -925,12 +925,14 @@ export function App() {
 
   const settingsSidebarContent = (
     <div className="sidebar w-60 h-full min-h-0 bg-card border-r border-border flex flex-col">
-      <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-3 py-3 border-b border-border">
-        <h2 className="text-xs uppercase text-muted-foreground font-medium">Settings</h2>
+      <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-3 py-2.5 border-b border-border">
+        <h2 className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground font-medium">
+          Settings
+        </h2>
         <button
           type="button"
           onClick={handleCloseSettingsView}
-          className="h-6 w-6 rounded text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-accent"
+          className="h-6 w-6 rounded text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-accent transition-colors"
           title="Back to conversations"
           aria-label="Back to conversations"
         >
@@ -943,7 +945,7 @@ export function App() {
             key={section}
             type="button"
             className={cn(
-              'w-full px-3 py-2.5 text-left border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent',
+              'w-full px-3 py-2 text-left text-[13px] border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent transition-colors',
               settingsSection === section && 'bg-accent border-l-primary'
             )}
             onClick={() => setSettingsSection(section)}
@@ -986,7 +988,7 @@ export function App() {
             {activeConversation ? (
               activeConversation.type === 'map' ? (
                 <>
-                  <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-3 border-b border-border font-medium text-lg">
+                  <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-2.5 border-b border-border font-semibold text-base">
                     Node Map
                   </div>
                   <div className="flex-1 overflow-hidden">
@@ -1018,7 +1020,7 @@ export function App() {
                 </Suspense>
               ) : activeConversation.type === 'raw' ? (
                 <>
-                  <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-3 border-b border-border font-medium text-lg">
+                  <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-2.5 border-b border-border font-semibold text-base">
                     Raw Packet Feed
                   </div>
                   <div className="flex-1 overflow-hidden">
@@ -1027,9 +1029,9 @@ export function App() {
                 </>
               ) : (
                 <>
-                  <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-3 border-b border-border font-medium text-lg gap-2">
+                  <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-2.5 border-b border-border gap-2">
                     <span className="flex flex-wrap items-baseline gap-x-2 min-w-0 flex-1">
-                      <span className="flex-shrink-0">
+                      <span className="flex-shrink-0 font-semibold text-base">
                         {activeConversation.type === 'channel' &&
                         !activeConversation.name.startsWith('#') &&
                         activeConversation.name !== 'Public'
@@ -1038,7 +1040,7 @@ export function App() {
                         {activeConversation.name}
                       </span>
                       <span
-                        className="font-normal text-sm text-muted-foreground font-mono truncate cursor-pointer hover:text-primary"
+                        className="font-normal text-[11px] text-muted-foreground font-mono truncate cursor-pointer hover:text-primary transition-colors"
                         onClick={(e) => {
                           e.stopPropagation();
                           navigator.clipboard.writeText(activeConversation.id);
@@ -1119,11 +1121,11 @@ export function App() {
                           ) : null;
                         })()}
                     </span>
-                    <div className="flex items-center gap-1 flex-shrink-0">
+                    <div className="flex items-center gap-0.5 flex-shrink-0">
                       {/* Direct trace button (contacts only) */}
                       {activeConversation.type === 'contact' && (
                         <button
-                          className="p-1.5 rounded hover:bg-accent text-xl leading-none"
+                          className="p-1.5 rounded hover:bg-accent text-lg leading-none transition-colors"
                           onClick={handleTrace}
                           title="Direct Trace"
                         >
@@ -1134,7 +1136,7 @@ export function App() {
                       {(activeConversation.type === 'channel' ||
                         activeConversation.type === 'contact') && (
                         <button
-                          className="p-1.5 rounded hover:bg-accent text-xl leading-none"
+                          className="p-1.5 rounded hover:bg-accent text-lg leading-none transition-colors"
                           onClick={() =>
                             handleToggleFavorite(
                               activeConversation.type as 'channel' | 'contact',
@@ -1156,7 +1158,7 @@ export function App() {
                             activeConversation.type as 'channel' | 'contact',
                             activeConversation.id
                           ) ? (
-                            <span className="text-yellow-500">&#9733;</span>
+                            <span className="text-amber-400">&#9733;</span>
                           ) : (
                             <span className="text-muted-foreground">&#9734;</span>
                           )}
@@ -1168,7 +1170,7 @@ export function App() {
                         activeConversation.name === 'Public'
                       ) && (
                         <button
-                          className="p-1.5 rounded hover:bg-destructive/20 text-destructive text-xl leading-none"
+                          className="p-1.5 rounded hover:bg-destructive/10 text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive text-lg leading-none transition-colors"
                           onClick={() => {
                             if (activeConversation.type === 'channel') {
                               handleDeleteChannel(activeConversation.id);
@@ -1234,7 +1236,7 @@ export function App() {
 
           {showSettings && (
             <div className="flex-1 flex flex-col min-h-0">
-              <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-3 border-b border-border font-medium text-lg">
+              <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-4 py-2.5 border-b border-border font-semibold text-base">
                 <span>Radio & Settings</span>
                 <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground hidden md:inline">
                   {SETTINGS_SECTION_LABELS[settingsSection]}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx b/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx
index af46800..f8f628c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx
@@ -170,7 +170,10 @@ export const MessageInput = forwardRef<MessageInputHandle, MessageInputProps>(fu
   const showCharCounter = !isRepeaterMode && limits !== null;
 
   return (
-    <form className="px-4 py-3 border-t border-border flex flex-col gap-1" onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
+    <form
+      className="px-4 py-2.5 border-t border-border flex flex-col gap-1"
+      onSubmit={handleSubmit}
+    >
       <div className="flex gap-2">
         <Input
           ref={inputRef}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MessageList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/MessageList.tsx
index a8f7b9e..786a6a7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MessageList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MessageList.tsx
@@ -461,14 +461,14 @@ export function MessageList({
               <div
                 className={cn(
                   'py-1.5 px-3 rounded-lg min-w-0',
-                  msg.outgoing ? 'bg-[#1e3a29]' : 'bg-muted'
+                  msg.outgoing ? 'bg-msg-outgoing' : 'bg-msg-incoming'
                 )}
               >
                 {showAvatar && (
-                  <div className="text-[13px] font-bold text-foreground mb-0.5">
+                  <div className="text-[13px] font-semibold text-foreground mb-0.5">
                     {canClickSender ? (
                       <span
-                        className="cursor-pointer hover:text-primary hover:underline"
+                        className="cursor-pointer hover:text-primary transition-colors"
                         onClick={() => onSenderClick(displaySender)}
                         title={`Mention ${displaySender}`}
                       >
@@ -587,13 +587,13 @@ export function MessageList({
       {showScrollToBottom && (
         <button
           onClick={scrollToBottom}
-          className="absolute bottom-4 right-4 w-10 h-10 rounded-full bg-muted hover:bg-accent border border-border flex items-center justify-center shadow-lg transition-opacity"
+          className="absolute bottom-4 right-4 w-9 h-9 rounded-full bg-card hover:bg-accent border border-border flex items-center justify-center shadow-lg transition-all hover:scale-105"
           title="Scroll to bottom"
         >
           <svg
             xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-            width="20"
-            height="20"
+            width="18"
+            height="18"
             viewBox="0 0 24 24"
             fill="none"
             stroke="currentColor"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RawPacketList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/RawPacketList.tsx
index 21e2508..83ccfdf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RawPacketList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RawPacketList.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { MeshCoreDecoder, PayloadType, Utils } from '@michaelhart/meshcore-decoder';
 import type { RawPacket } from '../types';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 
 interface RawPacketListProps {
   packets: RawPacket[];
@@ -204,9 +205,9 @@ export function RawPacketList({ packets }: RawPacketListProps) {
   const sortedPackets = [...decodedPackets].sort((a, b) => a.packet.timestamp - b.packet.timestamp);
 
   return (
-    <div className="h-full overflow-y-auto p-4 flex flex-col gap-3" ref={listRef}>
+    <div className="h-full overflow-y-auto p-4 flex flex-col gap-2" ref={listRef}>
       {sortedPackets.map(({ packet, decoded }) => (
-        <div key={packet.id} className="py-2 px-3 bg-muted rounded">
+        <div key={packet.id} className="py-2 px-3 bg-card rounded-md border border-border/50">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
             {/* Route type badge */}
             <span
@@ -220,25 +221,27 @@ export function RawPacketList({ packets }: RawPacketListProps) {
             {!packet.decrypted && <span title="Encrypted">🔒</span>}
 
             {/* Summary */}
-            <span className={packet.decrypted ? 'text-primary' : 'text-foreground'}>
+            <span
+              className={cn('text-[13px]', packet.decrypted ? 'text-primary' : 'text-foreground')}
+            >
               {decoded.summary}
             </span>
 
             {/* Time */}
-            <span className="text-muted-foreground ml-auto text-sm">
+            <span className="text-muted-foreground ml-auto text-[12px] tabular-nums">
               {formatTime(packet.timestamp)}
             </span>
           </div>
 
           {/* Signal info */}
           {(packet.snr !== null || packet.rssi !== null) && (
-            <div className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">
+            <div className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground mt-0.5 tabular-nums">
               {formatSignalInfo(packet)}
             </div>
           )}
 
           {/* Raw hex data (always visible) */}
-          <div className="font-mono text-[10px] break-all text-muted-foreground mt-1 p-1 bg-background/50 rounded">
+          <div className="font-mono text-[10px] break-all text-muted-foreground mt-1.5 p-1.5 bg-background/60 rounded">
             {packet.data.toUpperCase()}
           </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
index 8c2d3f4..4180078 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -380,9 +380,9 @@ export function Sidebar({
     <div
       key={row.key}
       className={cn(
-        'px-3 py-2.5 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent',
+        'px-3 py-2 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent transition-colors',
         isActive(row.type, row.id) && 'bg-accent border-l-primary',
-        row.unreadCount > 0 && '[&_.name]:font-bold [&_.name]:text-foreground'
+        row.unreadCount > 0 && '[&_.name]:font-semibold [&_.name]:text-foreground'
       )}
       onClick={() =>
         handleSelectConversation({
@@ -400,14 +400,14 @@ export function Sidebar({
           contactType={row.contact.type}
         />
       )}
-      <span className="name flex-1 truncate">{row.name}</span>
+      <span className="name flex-1 truncate text-[13px]">{row.name}</span>
       {row.unreadCount > 0 && (
         <span
           className={cn(
             'text-[10px] font-semibold px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full min-w-[18px] text-center',
             row.isMention
               ? 'bg-destructive text-destructive-foreground'
-              : 'bg-primary text-primary-foreground'
+              : 'bg-primary/90 text-primary-foreground'
           )}
         >
           {row.unreadCount}
@@ -443,10 +443,10 @@ export function Sidebar({
     const effectiveCollapsed = isSearching ? false : collapsed;
 
     return (
-      <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-3 py-2 pt-3">
+      <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-3 py-2 pt-3.5">
         <button
           className={cn(
-            'flex items-center gap-1 text-[11px] uppercase text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground',
+            'flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors',
             isSearching && 'cursor-default'
           )}
           onClick={() => {
@@ -454,14 +454,14 @@ export function Sidebar({
           }}
           title={effectiveCollapsed ? `Expand ${title}` : `Collapse ${title}`}
         >
-          <span className="text-[10px]">{effectiveCollapsed ? '▸' : '▾'}</span>
+          <span className="text-[9px]">{effectiveCollapsed ? '▸' : '▾'}</span>
           <span>{title}</span>
         </button>
         {(showSortToggle || unreadCount > 0) && (
           <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-1.5">
             {showSortToggle && (
               <button
-                className="bg-transparent border border-border text-muted-foreground px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] rounded hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground mr-0.5"
+                className="bg-transparent text-muted-foreground/60 px-1 py-0.5 text-[10px] rounded hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
                 onClick={handleSortToggle}
                 title={sortOrder === 'alpha' ? 'Sort by recent' : 'Sort alphabetically'}
               >
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
               </button>
             )}
             {unreadCount > 0 && (
-              <span className="text-[10px] font-medium px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-muted text-muted-foreground">
+              <span className="text-[10px] font-medium px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-secondary text-muted-foreground">
                 {unreadCount}
               </span>
             )}
@@ -482,31 +482,33 @@ export function Sidebar({
   return (
     <div className="sidebar w-60 h-full min-h-0 bg-card border-r border-border flex flex-col">
       {/* Header */}
-      <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-3 py-3 border-b border-border">
-        <h2 className="text-xs uppercase text-muted-foreground font-medium">Conversations</h2>
+      <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-3 py-2.5 border-b border-border">
+        <h2 className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground font-medium">
+          Conversations
+        </h2>
         <Button
           variant="ghost"
           size="sm"
           onClick={onNewMessage}
           title="New Message"
-          className="h-6 w-6 p-0 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+          className="h-6 w-6 p-0 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
         >
           +
         </Button>
       </div>
 
       {/* Search */}
-      <div className="relative px-3 py-2 border-b border-border">
+      <div className="relative px-3 py-2">
         <Input
           type="text"
           placeholder="Search..."
           value={searchQuery}
           onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
-          className="h-8 text-sm pr-8"
+          className="h-7 text-[13px] pr-8 bg-background/50"
         />
         {searchQuery && (
           <button
-            className="absolute right-4 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground text-lg leading-none"
+            className="absolute right-4 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground text-lg leading-none transition-colors"
             onClick={() => setSearchQuery('')}
             title="Clear search"
           >
@@ -521,7 +523,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
         {!query && (
           <div
             className={cn(
-              'px-3 py-2.5 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent',
+              'px-3 py-2 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent transition-colors text-[13px]',
               isActive('raw', 'raw') && 'bg-accent border-l-primary'
             )}
             onClick={() =>
@@ -533,7 +535,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
             }
           >
             <span className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">📡</span>
-            <span className="flex-1 truncate">Packet Feed</span>
+            <span className="flex-1 truncate text-muted-foreground">Packet Feed</span>
           </div>
         )}
 
@@ -541,7 +543,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
         {!query && (
           <div
             className={cn(
-              'px-3 py-2.5 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent',
+              'px-3 py-2 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent transition-colors text-[13px]',
               isActive('map', 'map') && 'bg-accent border-l-primary'
             )}
             onClick={() =>
@@ -553,7 +555,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
             }
           >
             <span className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">🗺️</span>
-            <span className="flex-1 truncate">Node Map</span>
+            <span className="flex-1 truncate text-muted-foreground">Node Map</span>
           </div>
         )}
 
@@ -561,7 +563,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
         {!query && (
           <div
             className={cn(
-              'px-3 py-2.5 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent',
+              'px-3 py-2 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent transition-colors text-[13px]',
               isActive('visualizer', 'visualizer') && 'bg-accent border-l-primary'
             )}
             onClick={() =>
@@ -573,7 +575,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
             }
           >
             <span className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">✨</span>
-            <span className="flex-1 truncate">Mesh Visualizer</span>
+            <span className="flex-1 truncate text-muted-foreground">Mesh Visualizer</span>
           </div>
         )}
 
@@ -581,18 +583,18 @@ export function Sidebar({
         {!query && (
           <div
             className={cn(
-              'px-3 py-2.5 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent',
+              'px-3 py-2 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent transition-colors text-[13px]',
               showCracker && 'bg-accent border-l-primary'
             )}
             onClick={onToggleCracker}
           >
             <span className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">🔓</span>
-            <span className="flex-1 truncate">
+            <span className="flex-1 truncate text-muted-foreground">
               {showCracker ? 'Hide' : 'Show'} Room Finder
               <span
                 className={cn(
-                  'ml-1 text-xs',
-                  crackerRunning ? 'text-green-500' : 'text-muted-foreground'
+                  'ml-1 text-[11px]',
+                  crackerRunning ? 'text-primary' : 'text-muted-foreground'
                 )}
               >
                 ({crackerRunning ? 'running' : 'idle'})
@@ -604,7 +606,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
         {/* Mark All Read */}
         {!query && Object.keys(unreadCounts).length > 0 && (
           <div
-            className="px-3 py-2.5 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent"
+            className="px-3 py-2 cursor-pointer flex items-center gap-2 border-l-2 border-transparent hover:bg-accent transition-colors text-[13px]"
             onClick={onMarkAllRead}
           >
             <span className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">✓</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/StatusBar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/StatusBar.tsx
index a12798a..34cea3a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/StatusBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/StatusBar.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { Menu } from 'lucide-react';
 import type { HealthStatus, RadioConfig } from '../types';
 import { api } from '../api';
 import { toast } from './ui/sonner';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 
 interface StatusBarProps {
   health: HealthStatus | null;
@@ -39,34 +40,39 @@ export function StatusBar({
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex items-center gap-4 px-4 py-2 bg-card border-b border-border text-xs">
+    <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-2.5 bg-card border-b border-border text-xs">
       {/* Mobile menu button - only visible on small screens */}
       {onMenuClick && (
         <button
           onClick={onMenuClick}
-          className="md:hidden p-1 bg-transparent border-none text-foreground cursor-pointer"
+          className="md:hidden p-1 bg-transparent border-none text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground cursor-pointer transition-colors"
           aria-label="Open menu"
         >
           <Menu className="h-5 w-5" />
         </button>
       )}
 
-      <h1 className="text-base font-semibold mr-auto">RemoteTerm</h1>
+      <h1 className="text-sm font-semibold tracking-tight mr-auto text-foreground">RemoteTerm</h1>
 
-      <div className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
         <div
-          className={`w-2 h-2 rounded-full ${connected ? 'bg-primary' : 'bg-muted-foreground'}`}
+          className={cn(
+            'w-2 h-2 rounded-full transition-colors',
+            connected
+              ? 'bg-primary shadow-[0_0_6px_hsl(var(--primary)/0.5)]'
+              : 'bg-muted-foreground'
+          )}
         />
-        <span className="hidden lg:inline text-foreground">
+        <span className="hidden lg:inline text-muted-foreground">
           {connected ? 'Connected' : 'Disconnected'}
         </span>
       </div>
 
       {config && (
         <div className="hidden lg:flex items-center gap-2 text-muted-foreground">
-          <span className="text-foreground">{config.name || 'Unnamed'}</span>
+          <span className="text-foreground font-medium">{config.name || 'Unnamed'}</span>
           <span
-            className="font-mono text-muted-foreground cursor-pointer hover:text-primary"
+            className="font-mono text-[11px] text-muted-foreground cursor-pointer hover:text-primary transition-colors"
             onClick={() => {
               navigator.clipboard.writeText(config.public_key);
               toast.success('Public key copied!');
@@ -82,19 +88,16 @@ export function StatusBar({
         <button
           onClick={handleReconnect}
           disabled={reconnecting}
-          className="px-3 py-1 bg-amber-950 border border-amber-800 text-amber-400 rounded text-xs cursor-pointer hover:bg-amber-900 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+          className="px-3 py-1 bg-amber-500/10 border border-amber-500/20 text-amber-400 rounded-md text-xs cursor-pointer hover:bg-amber-500/15 transition-colors disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
         >
           {reconnecting ? 'Reconnecting...' : 'Reconnect'}
         </button>
       )}
       <button
         onClick={onSettingsClick}
-        className="px-3 py-1 bg-secondary border border-border text-foreground rounded text-xs cursor-pointer hover:bg-accent"
+        className="px-3 py-1.5 bg-secondary border border-border text-muted-foreground rounded-md text-xs cursor-pointer hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
       >
-        <span role="img" aria-label="Settings">
-          &#128295;
-        </span>{' '}
-        {settingsMode ? 'Back to Chat' : 'Radio & Config'}
+        {settingsMode ? 'Back to Chat' : 'Settings'}
       </button>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index bc71a7f..0c75738 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -4,26 +4,30 @@
 
 @layer base {
   :root {
-    --background: 0 0% 10%;
-    --foreground: 0 0% 88%;
-    --card: 0 0% 14%;
-    --card-foreground: 0 0% 88%;
-    --popover: 0 0% 14%;
-    --popover-foreground: 0 0% 88%;
-    --primary: 122 39% 49%;
+    --background: 224 14% 8%;
+    --foreground: 213 15% 90%;
+    --card: 224 13% 11%;
+    --card-foreground: 213 15% 90%;
+    --popover: 224 13% 12%;
+    --popover-foreground: 213 15% 90%;
+    --primary: 152 60% 38%;
     --primary-foreground: 0 0% 100%;
-    --secondary: 0 0% 20%;
-    --secondary-foreground: 0 0% 88%;
-    --muted: 0 0% 20%;
-    --muted-foreground: 0 0% 64%;
-    --accent: 0 0% 20%;
-    --accent-foreground: 0 0% 88%;
-    --destructive: 0 62% 50%;
+    --secondary: 224 12% 17%;
+    --secondary-foreground: 213 12% 85%;
+    --muted: 224 12% 15%;
+    --muted-foreground: 218 10% 60%;
+    --accent: 224 11% 19%;
+    --accent-foreground: 213 15% 90%;
+    --destructive: 0 72% 51%;
     --destructive-foreground: 0 0% 100%;
-    --border: 0 0% 20%;
-    --input: 0 0% 20%;
-    --ring: 122 39% 49%;
+    --border: 224 11% 17%;
+    --input: 224 11% 17%;
+    --ring: 152 60% 38%;
     --radius: 0.5rem;
+
+    /* Semantic colors for specific contexts */
+    --msg-outgoing: 152 30% 14%;
+    --msg-incoming: 224 12% 15%;
   }
 }
 
@@ -33,11 +37,40 @@
   }
   body {
     @apply bg-background text-foreground;
-    font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
+    font-family:
+      system-ui,
+      -apple-system,
+      BlinkMacSystemFont,
+      'Segoe UI',
+      sans-serif;
     font-size: 14px;
+    -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
+    -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;
   }
 }
 
+/* Custom scrollbar — thin, unobtrusive, matches palette */
+::-webkit-scrollbar {
+  width: 6px;
+  height: 6px;
+}
+::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
+  background: transparent;
+}
+::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
+  background: hsl(224 11% 22%);
+  border-radius: 3px;
+}
+::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
+  background: hsl(224 11% 28%);
+}
+
+/* Firefox scrollbar */
+* {
+  scrollbar-width: thin;
+  scrollbar-color: hsl(224 11% 22%) transparent;
+}
+
 /* Constrain CodeMirror editor width */
 .cm-editor {
   max-width: 100% !important;
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles.css b/frontend/src/styles.css
index dbd3f7a..d2dd546 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles.css
@@ -32,7 +32,12 @@ body,
 }
 
 body {
-  font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
+  font-family:
+    system-ui,
+    -apple-system,
+    BlinkMacSystemFont,
+    'Segoe UI',
+    sans-serif;
   /* Prevent overscroll/bounce on mobile */
   overscroll-behavior: none;
   padding: var(--safe-area-top) var(--safe-area-right) var(--safe-area-bottom-capped)
diff --git a/frontend/tailwind.config.js b/frontend/tailwind.config.js
index fa318b9..afccb05 100644
--- a/frontend/tailwind.config.js
+++ b/frontend/tailwind.config.js
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ export default {
           DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--card))",
           foreground: "hsl(var(--card-foreground))",
         },
+        "msg-outgoing": "hsl(var(--msg-outgoing))",
+        "msg-incoming": "hsl(var(--msg-incoming))",
       },
       borderRadius: {
         lg: "var(--radius)",