diff --git a/src/components/ApiKeySetup.css b/src/components/ApiKeySetup.css
index e6127a7..86a7051 100644
--- a/src/components/ApiKeySetup.css
+++ b/src/components/ApiKeySetup.css
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@
   margin-top: 10px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
   border: none;
-  background: var(--accent);
-  color: var(--accent-fg);
+  background: var(--gradient);
+  color: #fff;
   font-family: 'Syne', sans-serif;
   font-size: 13px;
   font-weight: 600;
diff --git a/src/components/MicButton.css b/src/components/MicButton.css
index 00953f4..d7f4073 100644
--- a/src/components/MicButton.css
+++ b/src/components/MicButton.css
@@ -10,15 +10,18 @@
   width: 56px;
   height: 56px;
   border-radius: 50%;
-  border: 2px solid var(--mic-idle);
-  background: transparent;
+  border: 2px solid transparent;
+  background:
+    linear-gradient(var(--bg), var(--bg)) padding-box,
+    conic-gradient(from var(--mic-angle), #6366f1, #a855f7, #ec4899, #6366f1) border-box;
+  animation: mic-spin 4s linear infinite;
   cursor: pointer;
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: center;
   position: relative;
   color: var(--mic-idle);
-  transition: border-color 0.25s, background 0.25s, transform 0.15s;
+  transition: background 0.25s, transform 0.15s;
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
 
@@ -36,9 +39,10 @@
 }
 
 .mic-btn.recording {
-  border-color: var(--mic-active);
+  border: 2px solid var(--mic-active);
   background: rgba(230, 62, 47, 0.06);
   color: var(--mic-active);
+  animation: none;
 }
 
 .mic-btn.recording::before {
diff --git a/src/components/SettingsModal.css b/src/components/SettingsModal.css
index f68d2f9..d39dd1e 100644
--- a/src/components/SettingsModal.css
+++ b/src/components/SettingsModal.css
@@ -447,8 +447,8 @@
 }
 
 .settings-toggle.on {
-  background: var(--accent);
-  border-color: var(--accent);
+  background: var(--gradient);
+  border-color: transparent;
 }
 
 .settings-toggle-thumb {
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@
 
 .settings-toggle.on .settings-toggle-thumb {
   transform: translateX(18px);
-  background: var(--accent-fg);
+  background: #fff;
 }
 
 /* ── About tab ── */
diff --git a/src/components/Sidebar.css b/src/components/Sidebar.css
index 5f76680..c045039 100644
--- a/src/components/Sidebar.css
+++ b/src/components/Sidebar.css
@@ -57,22 +57,25 @@
   gap: 10px;
   padding: 10px 12px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  background: var(--surface2);
-  color: var(--text);
+  border: none;
+  background: var(--gradient);
+  color: #fff;
   font-family: 'Syne', sans-serif;
   font-size: 13px;
   font-weight: 500;
   cursor: pointer;
   width: 100%;
   text-align: left;
-  transition: background 0.2s, border-color 0.2s;
+  transition: opacity 0.2s, transform 0.15s;
   white-space: nowrap;
 }
 
 .sidebar-new-btn:hover {
-  background: var(--border);
-  border-color: var(--text-muted);
+  opacity: 0.88;
+}
+
+.sidebar-new-btn:active {
+  transform: scale(0.98);
 }
 
 /* ── Conversation list ── */
diff --git a/src/index.css b/src/index.css
index 4af4782..75f2b0e 100644
--- a/src/index.css
+++ b/src/index.css
@@ -48,6 +48,21 @@ body.dark {
   --shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), 0 4px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
 }
 
+/* ── Gradient accent ── */
+@property --mic-angle {
+  syntax: '<angle>';
+  initial-value: 0deg;
+  inherits: false;
+}
+
+:root {
+  --gradient: linear-gradient(135deg, #6366f1, #a855f7, #ec4899);
+}
+
+@keyframes mic-spin {
+  to { --mic-angle: 360deg; }
+}
+
 @keyframes fadeUp {
   from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(12px); }
   to   { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }