diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index e66cd24..14d725d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@
   --wrong-fg:      #7f1d1d;
   --expl-bg:       #f0f9ff;
   --expl-bd:       #38bdf8;
-  --navbar-bg:     #0f172a;
+  /* The same slate as before, two steps up: dark enough to sit under the
+     page without the bar reading as a black band across the top. */
+  --navbar-bg:     #1e293b;
   --navbar-fg:     #e2e8f0;
   --badge-radius:  12px;
 }
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@
   --wrong-fg:      #6b1a1a;
   --expl-bg:       #f9f4ea;
   --expl-bd:       #c4965a;
-  --navbar-bg:     #1e140a;
+  --navbar-bg:     #33230f;
   --navbar-fg:     #f0e8d8;
   --badge-radius:  4px;
   --font-body:     'Source Serif 4', Georgia, serif;