diff --git a/frontend/src/css/terminal.css b/frontend/src/css/terminal.css
index c26a560..c911c33 100644
--- a/frontend/src/css/terminal.css
+++ b/frontend/src/css/terminal.css
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@
     flex-direction: column;
     align-items: center;
     justify-content: center;
-    background: rgba(26, 26, 46, 0.85);
+    background: rgba(28, 28, 28, 0.85);
     z-index: 5;
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/css/tokens.css b/frontend/src/css/tokens.css
index a66383d..40c4c45 100644
--- a/frontend/src/css/tokens.css
+++ b/frontend/src/css/tokens.css
@@ -8,38 +8,38 @@
     /* -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Colour palette — dark charcoal theme
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-    --bg-base:      #1a1a2e;   /* deepest background                        */
-    --bg-surface:   #1f1f35;   /* primary surface (sidebar, bars)            */
-    --bg-elevated:  #252540;   /* elevated panels, cards                     */
-    --bg-overlay:   #2a2a4a;   /* overlays, dropdowns                       */
-    --bg-hover:     #30304f;   /* hover state backgrounds                   */
-    --bg-active:    #353560;   /* active / pressed state                    */
-    --bg-input:     #1c1c32;   /* input field backgrounds                   */
+    --bg-base:      #1c1c1c;   /* deepest background                        */
+    --bg-surface:   #232323;   /* primary surface (sidebar, bars)            */
+    --bg-elevated:  #2a2a2a;   /* elevated panels, cards                     */
+    --bg-overlay:   #303030;   /* overlays, dropdowns                       */
+    --bg-hover:     #363636;   /* hover state backgrounds                   */
+    --bg-active:    #3c3c3c;   /* active / pressed state                    */
+    --bg-input:     #1e1e1e;   /* input field backgrounds                   */
 
     /* -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Border colours
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-    --border-subtle:  rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
-    --border-default: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.10);
-    --border-strong:  rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.16);
+    --border-subtle:  rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.07);
+    --border-default: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
+    --border-strong:  rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
     --border-focus:   var(--accent);
 
     /* -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Text colours
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-    --text-primary:   #e8e8f0;
-    --text-secondary: #a0a0b8;
-    --text-tertiary:  #6e6e88;
-    --text-disabled:  #4a4a60;
-    --text-inverse:   #1a1a2e;
+    --text-primary:   #e4e4e4;
+    --text-secondary: #a0a0a0;
+    --text-tertiary:  #707070;
+    --text-disabled:  #4a4a4a;
+    --text-inverse:   #1c1c1c;
 
     /* -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Accent colours — teal / cyan
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------- */
     --accent:        #4ecdc4;
     --accent-hover:  #45b7af;
-    --accent-muted:  rgba(78, 205, 196, 0.15);
-    --accent-strong: rgba(78, 205, 196, 0.25);
+    --accent-muted:  rgba(78, 205, 196, 0.12);
+    --accent-strong: rgba(78, 205, 196, 0.22);
 
     /* -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Status colours
diff --git a/frontend/src/js/app.js b/frontend/src/js/app.js
index fe3409e..26c5b49 100644
--- a/frontend/src/js/app.js
+++ b/frontend/src/js/app.js
@@ -134,9 +134,13 @@ class App {
         window.runtime.EventsOn('session:state', (payload) => {
             this.tabs.updateSessionState(payload.sessionID, payload.state, payload.error);
             this.updateStatusBar();
-            // Re-fit the terminal once connected so it picks up the final container size
+            // Re-fit the terminal once connected so it picks up the final container size.
+            // Use multiple delays because the panel layout may still be settling.
             if (payload.state === 'connected') {
-                setTimeout(() => this.terminals.fitActive(), 50);
+                const fit = () => this.terminals.fitSession(payload.sessionID);
+                setTimeout(fit, 30);
+                setTimeout(fit, 150);
+                setTimeout(fit, 500);
             }
         });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/js/terminal.js b/frontend/src/js/terminal.js
index 34d1bc2..1f65e04 100644
--- a/frontend/src/js/terminal.js
+++ b/frontend/src/js/terminal.js
@@ -172,8 +172,15 @@ class TerminalManager {
      */
     fitActive() {
         const id = this.app.state.activeSessionId;
-        if (!id) return;
-        const entry = this.terminals.get(id);
+        if (id) this.fitSession(id);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Re-fits a specific session's terminal to its container.
+     * @param {string} sessionId
+     */
+    fitSession(sessionId) {
+        const entry = this.terminals.get(sessionId);
         if (entry) {
             requestAnimationFrame(() => {
                 try { entry.fitAddon.fit(); } catch (_) { /* noop */ }
@@ -266,21 +273,21 @@ class TerminalManager {
      */
     _buildTheme() {
         return {
-            background: '#1a1a2e',
-            foreground: '#e8e8f0',
+            background: '#1c1c1c',
+            foreground: '#e4e4e4',
             cursor: '#4ecdc4',
-            cursorAccent: '#1a1a2e',
+            cursorAccent: '#1c1c1c',
             selectionBackground: 'rgba(78, 205, 196, 0.3)',
             selectionForeground: '#ffffff',
-            black: '#1a1a2e',
+            black: '#1c1c1c',
             red: '#ef5350',
             green: '#66bb6a',
             yellow: '#ffa726',
             blue: '#42a5f5',
             magenta: '#ab47bc',
             cyan: '#4ecdc4',
-            white: '#e8e8f0',
-            brightBlack: '#464670',
+            white: '#e4e4e4',
+            brightBlack: '#555555',
             brightRed: '#ff7043',
             brightGreen: '#81c784',
             brightYellow: '#ffcc02',