diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/app-sidebar.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/app-sidebar.component.ts
index 5d9cbd955..7c523934b 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/app-sidebar.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/app-sidebar.component.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
                 [attr.aria-expanded]="!sidebarPrefs.collapsedGroups().has(group.id)"
                 [attr.aria-controls]="'nav-grp-' + group.id"
               >
+                <span class="sb-group__dot"></span>
                 <span class="sb-group__title">{{ group.label }}</span>
                 <svg class="sb-group__chevron" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="10" height="10" aria-hidden="true">
                   <path d="M4 6l4 4 4-4" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="round"/>
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
                     <div class="sb-divider"></div>
                   }
                   @if (!collapsed && section.displayChildren.length > 0) {
-                    <!-- Section with foldable children -->
+                    <!-- Section with foldable children: link + chevron toggle -->
                     <div class="sb-section" [class.sb-section--folded]="sidebarPrefs.collapsedSections().has(section.id)">
                       <div class="sb-section__head">
                         <app-sidebar-nav-item
@@ -130,17 +131,18 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
                         ></app-sidebar-nav-item>
                         <button
                           type="button"
-                          class="sb-section__fold"
+                          class="sb-section__chevron"
                           (click)="sidebarPrefs.toggleSection(section.id)"
                           [attr.aria-expanded]="!sidebarPrefs.collapsedSections().has(section.id)"
+                          [attr.aria-controls]="'nav-sec-' + section.id"
                           [attr.aria-label]="(sidebarPrefs.collapsedSections().has(section.id) ? 'Expand ' : 'Collapse ') + section.label"
                         >
-                          <svg class="sb-section__fold-icon" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="12" height="12" aria-hidden="true">
-                            <path d="M4 6l4 4 4-4" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="round"/>
+                          <svg class="sb-section__chevron-icon" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="10" height="10" aria-hidden="true">
+                            <path d="M4 6l4 4.5 4-4.5z" fill="currentColor"/>
                           </svg>
                         </button>
                       </div>
-                      <div class="sb-section__body">
+                      <div class="sb-section__body" [id]="'nav-sec-' + section.id">
                         <div class="sb-section__body-inner">
                           @for (child of section.displayChildren; track child.id) {
                             <app-sidebar-nav-item
@@ -204,11 +206,16 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       width: 240px;
       height: 100%;
       min-height: 100vh;
-      background: var(--color-sidebar-bg);
+      background:
+        linear-gradient(
+          180deg,
+          var(--color-sidebar-bg) 0%,
+          color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-sidebar-bg) 96%, #000) 100%
+        );
       color: var(--color-sidebar-text);
       overflow: hidden;
       position: relative;
-      transition: width 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
+      transition: width 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
     }
 
     .sidebar--collapsed {
@@ -222,10 +229,14 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       right: 0;
       bottom: 0;
       width: 1px;
-      background: var(--color-sidebar-border);
+      background: linear-gradient(
+        180deg,
+        var(--color-sidebar-border) 0%,
+        rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.08) 50%,
+        var(--color-sidebar-border) 100%
+      );
     }
 
-    /* Mobile: always full width regardless of collapsed state */
     @media (max-width: 991px) {
       .sidebar,
       .sidebar.sidebar--collapsed {
@@ -244,11 +255,12 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       width: 32px;
       height: 32px;
       border: none;
-      border-radius: 6px;
+      border-radius: 8px;
       background: transparent;
       color: var(--color-sidebar-text-muted);
       cursor: pointer;
       z-index: 5;
+      transition: background 0.15s, color 0.15s;
 
       &:hover {
         background: var(--color-sidebar-hover);
@@ -271,9 +283,9 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       flex: 1;
       overflow-y: auto;
       overflow-x: hidden;
-      padding: 0.25rem 0.375rem;
+      padding: 0.5rem 0.5rem;
       scrollbar-width: thin;
-      scrollbar-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08) transparent;
+      scrollbar-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06) transparent;
 
       &::-webkit-scrollbar {
         width: 3px;
@@ -282,13 +294,17 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
         background: transparent;
       }
       &::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
-        background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08);
+        background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
         border-radius: 3px;
+
+        &:hover {
+          background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
+        }
       }
     }
 
     .sidebar--collapsed .sidebar__nav {
-      padding: 0.25rem 0.125rem;
+      padding: 0.5rem 0.25rem;
     }
 
     /* ================================================================
@@ -296,45 +312,81 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
        ================================================================ */
     .sb-group {
       &:not(:first-child) {
-        margin-top: 0.125rem;
-        padding-top: 0.25rem;
-        border-top: 1px solid var(--color-sidebar-divider);
+        margin-top: 0.5rem;
+        padding-top: 0.5rem;
+        position: relative;
+
+        &::before {
+          content: '';
+          position: absolute;
+          top: 0;
+          left: 0.75rem;
+          right: 0.75rem;
+          height: 1px;
+          background: linear-gradient(
+            90deg,
+            transparent 0%,
+            var(--color-sidebar-divider) 20%,
+            rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.06) 50%,
+            var(--color-sidebar-divider) 80%,
+            transparent 100%
+          );
+        }
       }
     }
 
-    /* ---- Group header (toggle button) ---- */
+    /* ---- Group header ---- */
     .sb-group__header {
       display: flex;
       align-items: center;
-      width: calc(100% - 0.25rem);
-      margin: 0 0.125rem 0.125rem;
-      padding: 0.3125rem 0.5rem;
+      gap: 0.375rem;
+      width: 100%;
+      margin: 0 0 0.25rem;
+      padding: 0.375rem 0.625rem;
       border: none;
-      border-radius: 4px;
+      border-radius: 6px;
       background: transparent;
       color: var(--color-sidebar-text-muted);
       cursor: pointer;
       font-family: inherit;
       font-size: 0;
-      transition: color 0.15s, background 0.15s;
+      transition: color 0.2s, background 0.2s;
 
       &:hover {
-        color: var(--color-sidebar-text-heading);
-        background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
+        color: var(--color-sidebar-active-text);
+        background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.04);
       }
 
       &:focus-visible {
-        outline: 1px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
-        outline-offset: -1px;
+        outline: 1.5px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+        outline-offset: -1.5px;
       }
     }
 
+    .sb-group__dot {
+      flex-shrink: 0;
+      width: 4px;
+      height: 4px;
+      border-radius: 50%;
+      background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.4);
+      transition: background 0.2s, transform 0.2s;
+    }
+
+    .sb-group__header:hover .sb-group__dot {
+      background: var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+      transform: scale(1.3);
+    }
+
+    .sb-group--collapsed .sb-group__dot {
+      background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.2);
+    }
+
     .sb-group__title {
       flex: 1;
-      font-size: 0.5625rem;
-      font-weight: 700;
+      font-size: 0.625rem;
+      font-weight: 600;
       text-transform: uppercase;
-      letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+      letter-spacing: 0.08em;
       line-height: 1;
       text-align: left;
       white-space: nowrap;
@@ -342,12 +394,12 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       text-overflow: ellipsis;
     }
 
-    /* ---- Group chevron (rotates on collapse) ---- */
+    /* ---- Group chevron ---- */
     .sb-group__chevron {
       flex-shrink: 0;
-      opacity: 0.35;
-      transition: transform 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1),
-                  opacity 0.15s;
+      opacity: 0.3;
+      transition: transform 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1),
+                  opacity 0.2s;
     }
 
     .sb-group--collapsed .sb-group__chevron {
@@ -358,11 +410,11 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       opacity: 0.7;
     }
 
-    /* ---- Animated group body (CSS grid trick) ---- */
+    /* ---- Animated group body ---- */
     .sb-group__body {
       display: grid;
       grid-template-rows: 1fr;
-      transition: grid-template-rows 0.28s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
+      transition: grid-template-rows 0.32s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
     }
 
     .sb-group--collapsed .sb-group__body {
@@ -371,63 +423,78 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
 
     .sb-group__body-inner {
       overflow: hidden;
+      transition: opacity 0.28s ease;
+    }
+
+    .sb-group--collapsed .sb-group__body-inner {
+      opacity: 0;
     }
 
     /* ================================================================
-       Sections within a group (foldable children)
+       Sections within a group
        ================================================================ */
     .sb-divider {
-      height: 1px;
-      background: var(--color-sidebar-divider);
-      margin: 0.25rem 0.75rem;
+      height: 0;
+      margin: 0.25rem 0;
     }
 
-    /* Section head: nav-item + fold toggle */
+    /* Section head: nav-item + chevron */
     .sb-section__head {
       position: relative;
+      display: flex;
+      align-items: center;
+      margin: 0;
+      padding: 0;
     }
 
-    .sb-section__fold {
-      position: absolute;
-      right: 0.375rem;
-      top: 50%;
-      transform: translateY(-50%);
+    .sb-section__head > app-sidebar-nav-item {
+      flex: 1;
+      min-width: 0;
+    }
+
+    .sb-section__chevron {
+      flex-shrink: 0;
       display: flex;
       align-items: center;
       justify-content: center;
-      width: 22px;
-      height: 22px;
+      width: 20px;
+      height: 20px;
       border: none;
-      border-radius: 4px;
+      border-radius: 5px;
       background: transparent;
       color: var(--color-sidebar-text-muted);
       cursor: pointer;
-      opacity: 0;
-      transition: opacity 0.15s, background 0.15s, color 0.15s;
-      z-index: 2;
+      opacity: 0.25;
+      transition: opacity 0.2s, background 0.2s, color 0.2s, transform 0.15s;
+      margin-right: 0.25rem;
 
       &:hover {
-        background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
-        color: var(--color-sidebar-text-heading);
+        opacity: 1 !important;
+        background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.12);
+        color: var(--color-sidebar-active-text);
+        transform: scale(1.1);
       }
 
       &:focus-visible {
-        opacity: 1;
-        outline: 1px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+        opacity: 1 !important;
+        outline: 1.5px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+        outline-offset: -1.5px;
       }
     }
 
-    /* Show fold button on hover or when section is folded */
-    .sb-section__head:hover .sb-section__fold,
-    .sb-section--folded .sb-section__fold {
-      opacity: 1;
+    .sb-section__head:hover .sb-section__chevron {
+      opacity: 0.7;
     }
 
-    .sb-section__fold-icon {
-      transition: transform 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
+    .sb-section--folded .sb-section__chevron {
+      opacity: 0.45;
     }
 
-    .sb-section--folded .sb-section__fold-icon {
+    .sb-section__chevron-icon {
+      transition: transform 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
+    }
+
+    .sb-section--folded .sb-section__chevron-icon {
       transform: rotate(-90deg);
     }
 
@@ -435,7 +502,7 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
     .sb-section__body {
       display: grid;
       grid-template-rows: 1fr;
-      transition: grid-template-rows 0.22s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
+      transition: grid-template-rows 0.28s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
     }
 
     .sb-section--folded .sb-section__body {
@@ -444,16 +511,37 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
 
     .sb-section__body-inner {
       overflow: hidden;
-      margin-left: 1.25rem;
-      border-left: 1px solid rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.12);
+      margin-left: 1.375rem;
+      padding-left: 0.375rem;
+      position: relative;
+      transition: opacity 0.24s ease;
+
+      &::before {
+        content: '';
+        position: absolute;
+        left: 0;
+        top: 0.125rem;
+        bottom: 0.125rem;
+        width: 1px;
+        background: linear-gradient(
+          180deg,
+          rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.2) 0%,
+          rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.08) 100%
+        );
+        border-radius: 1px;
+      }
+    }
+
+    .sb-section--folded .sb-section__body-inner {
+      opacity: 0;
     }
 
     /* ================================================================
-       Footer with collapse toggle
+       Footer
        ================================================================ */
     .sidebar__footer {
       flex-shrink: 0;
-      padding: 0.375rem 0.75rem 0.5rem;
+      padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem;
     }
 
     .sidebar__collapse-btn {
@@ -461,28 +549,27 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       align-items: center;
       justify-content: center;
       width: 100%;
-      height: 28px;
-      border: 1px solid var(--color-sidebar-divider);
-      border-radius: 6px;
+      height: 30px;
+      border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
+      border-radius: 8px;
       background: transparent;
       color: var(--color-sidebar-text-muted);
       cursor: pointer;
-      margin-bottom: 0.375rem;
-      transition: color 0.15s, background 0.15s, border-color 0.15s;
+      margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+      transition: color 0.2s, background 0.2s, border-color 0.2s;
 
       &:hover {
-        color: var(--color-sidebar-text-heading);
-        background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04);
-        border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
+        color: var(--color-sidebar-active-text);
+        background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.06);
+        border-color: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.15);
       }
 
       &:focus-visible {
-        outline: 1px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
-        outline-offset: -1px;
+        outline: 1.5px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+        outline-offset: -1.5px;
       }
     }
 
-    /* Hide collapse button on mobile (mobile uses the close X) */
     @media (max-width: 991px) {
       .sidebar__collapse-btn {
         display: none;
@@ -491,8 +578,14 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
 
     .sidebar__footer-divider {
       height: 1px;
-      background: var(--color-sidebar-divider);
-      margin-bottom: 0.375rem;
+      background: linear-gradient(
+        90deg,
+        transparent 0%,
+        var(--color-sidebar-divider) 30%,
+        var(--color-sidebar-divider) 70%,
+        transparent 100%
+      );
+      margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
     }
 
     .sidebar__version {
@@ -504,6 +597,7 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
       color: var(--color-sidebar-version);
       text-align: center;
       white-space: nowrap;
+      transition: font-size 0.2s, opacity 0.2s;
     }
 
     .sidebar--collapsed .sidebar__footer {
@@ -512,6 +606,7 @@ interface NavSectionGroup {
 
     .sidebar--collapsed .sidebar__version {
       font-size: 0;
+      opacity: 0;
       overflow: hidden;
     }
   `],
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/sidebar-nav-item.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/sidebar-nav-item.component.ts
index 60d4016f9..db5416a37 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/sidebar-nav-item.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/layout/app-sidebar/sidebar-nav-item.component.ts
@@ -282,26 +282,35 @@ export interface NavItem {
       align-items: center;
       gap: 0.625rem;
       padding: 0.4375rem 0.75rem;
-      margin: 0 0.25rem 1px;
+      margin: 1px 0.125rem;
       color: var(--color-sidebar-text);
       text-decoration: none;
       font-size: 0.8125rem;
       font-weight: 450;
-      transition: all 0.12s;
-      border-radius: 6px;
+      transition:
+        background 0.18s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1),
+        color 0.18s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1),
+        box-shadow 0.18s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1),
+        border-color 0.18s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1),
+        transform 0.12s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
+      border-radius: 8px;
       cursor: pointer;
       position: relative;
       min-width: 0;
       border-left: 2px solid transparent;
 
       &:hover {
-        background: var(--color-sidebar-hover);
+        background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.08);
         color: var(--color-sidebar-text-heading);
       }
 
+      &:active {
+        transform: scale(0.98);
+      }
+
       &:focus-visible {
-        outline: 2px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
-        outline-offset: -2px;
+        outline: 1.5px solid var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+        outline-offset: -1.5px;
       }
     }
 
@@ -310,39 +319,75 @@ export interface NavItem {
       color: var(--color-sidebar-active-text);
       font-weight: 600;
       border-left-color: var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+      box-shadow:
+        0 0 0 1px rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.08),
+        0 1px 6px rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.06);
 
       .nav-item__icon {
         color: var(--color-sidebar-active-text);
+        opacity: 1;
       }
 
       &:hover {
         background: var(--color-sidebar-active-bg);
+        box-shadow:
+          0 0 0 1px rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.12),
+          0 2px 10px rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.08);
       }
     }
 
     .nav-item--child {
-      font-size: 0.8125rem;
-      border-radius: 0;
-      margin: 0 0.25rem 1px;
-      padding: 0.375rem 0.75rem;
+      font-size: 0.7875rem;
+      font-weight: 420;
+      border-radius: 6px;
+      margin: 1px 0.125rem;
+      padding: 0.3125rem 0.625rem;
       border-left: 2px solid transparent;
 
       .nav-item__icon {
-        width: 16px;
-        height: 16px;
+        width: 15px;
+        height: 15px;
+        opacity: 0.45;
 
         svg {
-          width: 14px;
-          height: 14px;
+          width: 13px;
+          height: 13px;
         }
       }
     }
 
+    .nav-item--child:hover {
+      background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.06);
+
+      .nav-item__icon {
+        opacity: 0.7;
+      }
+    }
+
     .nav-item--child.nav-item--active {
-      background: transparent;
+      background: rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.1);
       color: var(--color-sidebar-active-text);
       font-weight: 600;
       border-left-color: transparent;
+      box-shadow: none;
+
+      .nav-item__icon {
+        opacity: 1;
+        color: var(--color-sidebar-active-text);
+      }
+
+      &::before {
+        content: '';
+        position: absolute;
+        left: -0.625rem;
+        top: 50%;
+        transform: translateY(-50%);
+        width: 6px;
+        height: 6px;
+        border-radius: 50%;
+        background: var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+        box-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.3);
+      }
     }
 
     .nav-item__icon {
@@ -352,11 +397,12 @@ export interface NavItem {
       justify-content: center;
       width: 18px;
       height: 18px;
-      opacity: 0.65;
+      opacity: 0.55;
+      transition: opacity 0.18s, color 0.18s;
     }
 
     .nav-item:hover .nav-item__icon {
-      opacity: 0.9;
+      opacity: 0.85;
     }
 
     .nav-item--active .nav-item__icon {
@@ -384,23 +430,39 @@ export interface NavItem {
       display: flex;
       align-items: center;
       justify-content: center;
+      box-shadow: 0 1px 4px rgba(245, 166, 35, 0.2);
     }
 
     /* Collapsed: icon-only mode */
     .nav-item--icon-only {
       justify-content: center;
       padding: 0.5rem;
-      margin: 0 0.125rem 1px;
+      margin: 1px 0.125rem;
       border-left-color: transparent;
+      border-radius: 8px;
 
       .nav-item__icon {
-        opacity: 0.8;
+        opacity: 0.7;
+      }
+
+      &:hover .nav-item__icon {
+        opacity: 1;
       }
     }
 
     .nav-item--icon-only.nav-item--active {
       border-left-color: transparent;
-      border-radius: 6px;
+
+      &::after {
+        content: '';
+        position: absolute;
+        left: -1px;
+        top: 25%;
+        bottom: 25%;
+        width: 2px;
+        border-radius: 2px;
+        background: var(--color-sidebar-active-border);
+      }
     }
   `],
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,