diff --git a/app/static/css/theme.css b/app/static/css/theme.css
index 1cd1c52..e8fa293 100644
--- a/app/static/css/theme.css
+++ b/app/static/css/theme.css
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
   --jqc-accent:     #2563eb;
   --jqc-accent-700: #1d4ed8;
   --jqc-accent-50:  #eff6ff;
-  --jqc-navbar:     #1a1d23;
+  --jqc-navbar:     #2563eb;   /* bright blue top bar (matches the app accent) */
   --jqc-shadow:     0 1px 2px rgba(15, 23, 42, .06), 0 1px 3px rgba(15, 23, 42, .05);
   --jqc-shadow-md:  0 4px 24px rgba(15, 23, 42, .10);
 }
@@ -80,26 +80,29 @@ h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6,
 .text-muted { color: var(--jqc-muted) !important; }
 a { text-underline-offset: 2px; }
 
-/* ── 3. Navbar — dark slate chrome (matches premium dark card-headers) ────── */
+/* ── 3. Navbar — bright blue chrome (app accent) ─────────────────────────── */
 .navbar.bg-primary {
   background-color: var(--jqc-navbar) !important;
-  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, .06);
-  box-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba(15, 23, 42, .04);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, .08);
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(15, 23, 42, .12);
 }
 .navbar .navbar-brand {
   font-weight: 700;
   letter-spacing: -.01em;
 }
 .navbar-dark .navbar-nav .nav-link {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .80);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .85);
   border-radius: 6px;
   padding-inline: .7rem;
   transition: background-color .15s, color .15s;
 }
-.navbar-dark .navbar-nav .nav-link:hover { color: #fff; }
+.navbar-dark .navbar-nav .nav-link:hover {
+  color: #fff;
+  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .10);
+}
 .navbar-dark .navbar-nav .nav-link.active {
-  background-color: rgba(37, 99, 235, .22) !important;
-  box-shadow: inset 0 -2px 0 var(--jqc-accent) !important;
+  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .20) !important;
+  box-shadow: inset 0 -2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, .65) !important;
   color: #fff !important;
 }