diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 129c6b85..40a223a4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ GitHub Releases page; `0.8.0` is the new starting line.
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+- **Softer TUI chrome in the dark theme.** Panel borders (welcome banner, menus) and the input-area
+  rules now render in a mid grey (`#8a8d91`) instead of near-white, for a less glaring look.
 - **Stop-time memory extraction can now be enabled explicitly.** Added an opt-in
   `memory.harvest_on_stop` setting that stages safe assistant decisions, blockers, evidence, and
   next steps into the existing scratchpad recall flow at turn end without writing directly to
diff --git a/src/pythinker_code/ui/theme.py b/src/pythinker_code/ui/theme.py
index a11a9c60..c7b28768 100644
--- a/src/pythinker_code/ui/theme.py
+++ b/src/pythinker_code/ui/theme.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ def _task_browser_style_light() -> PTKStyle:
     # reads as a single line of text rather than a chrome panel.
     "compact-input": "",
     "compact-input.prompt": "fg:#F4F4F5 bold",
-    "compact-input.frame": "fg:#e8ebed",
+    "compact-input.frame": "fg:#8a8d91",
     # Muted level word in the top-border effort label (the dot carries the color).
     "compact-input.effort": "fg:#A3A3A3",
     "running-prompt-placeholder": "fg:#A3A3A3 italic",
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ class TuiTokens:
 
 _TUI_TOKENS_DARK = TuiTokens(
     accent="#B3B9F4",
-    border="#e8ebed",
+    border="#8a8d91",
     border_accent="#7C88DE",
     border_muted="#b8bcc0",
     info="#AFE3F1",
diff --git a/tests/ui_and_conv/test_shell_panel.py b/tests/ui_and_conv/test_shell_panel.py
index f7bf7488..367be269 100644
--- a/tests/ui_and_conv/test_shell_panel.py
+++ b/tests/ui_and_conv/test_shell_panel.py
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ def test_brand_panel_is_rounded_and_uses_border_token():
     set_active_theme("dark")
     p = brand_panel("hello", title="Demo")
     assert p.box is box.ROUNDED
-    # border style resolves to the light grey border token
-    assert "#e8ebed" in str(p.border_style).lower()
+    # border style resolves to the mid grey border token
+    assert "#8a8d91" in str(p.border_style).lower()
 
 
 def test_brand_panel_active_uses_accent_border():
diff --git a/tests/ui_and_conv/test_tui_theme_tokens.py b/tests/ui_and_conv/test_tui_theme_tokens.py
index 7bd2aade..192b1e28 100644
--- a/tests/ui_and_conv/test_tui_theme_tokens.py
+++ b/tests/ui_and_conv/test_tui_theme_tokens.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def test_dark_tokens_have_brand_values():
     t = get_tui_tokens()
     assert t.accent == "#B3B9F4"  # periwinkle brand accent (≈ Catppuccin Mocha lavender)
     assert t.border_accent == "#7C88DE"  # accent-family chrome (active borders)
-    assert t.border == "#e8ebed"  # light grey
+    assert t.border == "#8a8d91"  # mid grey
     assert t.info == "#AFE3F1"  # cyan (unchanged; markdown code/links use ANSI cyan)
     assert t.success == "#7BC97F"
     assert t.error == "#EF5E62"