diff --git a/desktop/app/src/main/kotlin/com/shonar/desktop/Main.kt b/desktop/app/src/main/kotlin/com/shonar/desktop/Main.kt
index 8804685..e4be34d 100644
--- a/desktop/app/src/main/kotlin/com/shonar/desktop/Main.kt
+++ b/desktop/app/src/main/kotlin/com/shonar/desktop/Main.kt
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package com.shonar.desktop
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
-import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Surface
 import androidx.compose.runtime.collectAsState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ fun main() = application {
         title = "SHONAR Desktop",
         state = rememberWindowState(width = 1100.dp, height = 800.dp),
     ) {
-        MaterialTheme {
+        ShonarTheme {
             Surface(Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
                 Box(Modifier.fillMaxSize().padding(20.dp)) {
                     when (screen) {
diff --git a/desktop/app/src/main/kotlin/com/shonar/desktop/Theme.kt b/desktop/app/src/main/kotlin/com/shonar/desktop/Theme.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c200a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/app/src/main/kotlin/com/shonar/desktop/Theme.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package com.shonar.desktop
+
+import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
+import androidx.compose.material3.darkColorScheme
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
+
+/**
+ * SHONAR Desktop theme — "warm graphite": near-black charcoal surfaces
+ * with an olive-gold accent, inspired by the Skills Hub hero design.
+ * Desktop-only for now (Android keeps its own ui/theme/Theme.kt).
+ *
+ * Status semantics in the library list map to scheme roles:
+ * done -> primary (gold), failed -> error (red), queued/running ->
+ * onSurfaceVariant with a primary progress bar.
+ */
+private val ShonarGold = Color(0xFFE0B23A)   // text-safe gold (brighter for AA on cards)
+private val ShonarGoldBright = Color(0xFFF0C419)
+private val GoldInk = Color(0xFF1F1800)        // text on gold fills (AA)
+private val GraphiteBg = Color(0xFF1A1A1A)
+private val GraphiteSurface = Color(0xFF222222)
+private val GraphiteHigh = Color(0xFF2B2B2B)
+private val InkPrimary = Color(0xFFF4F4F4)
+private val InkSecondary = Color(0xFFB3B3B3)
+private val InkMuted = Color(0xFF8A8A8A)
+private val OutlineWarm = Color(0xFF3A3A3A)
+private val DangerWarm = Color(0xFFE5544F)
+
+private val ShonarDarkScheme = darkColorScheme(
+    primary = ShonarGold,
+    onPrimary = GoldInk,
+    primaryContainer = Color(0xFF3A3216),
+    onPrimaryContainer = ShonarGoldBright,
+
+    secondary = Color(0xFFB99B5E),
+    onSecondary = GoldInk,
+    secondaryContainer = Color(0xFF332C1A),
+    onSecondaryContainer = Color(0xFFE8D9AE),
+
+    tertiary = Color(0xFF8FA6B2),               // cool counterpoint (info-ish)
+    onTertiary = Color(0xFF0E1A20),
+    tertiaryContainer = Color(0xFF2A3B45),
+    onTertiaryContainer = Color(0xFFCDE2EC),
+
+    background = GraphiteBg,
+    onBackground = InkPrimary,
+
+    surface = GraphiteSurface,
+    onSurface = InkPrimary,
+    surfaceVariant = Color(0xFF2E2A21),
+    onSurfaceVariant = InkSecondary,
+    surfaceContainer = GraphiteHigh,            // cards lift off the bg
+    surfaceContainerHigh = Color(0xFF333333),
+    surfaceContainerHighest = Color(0xFF3A3A3A),
+
+    outline = OutlineWarm,
+    outlineVariant = Color(0xFF2E2E2E),
+
+    error = DangerWarm,
+    onError = Color(0xFF2B0A08),
+    errorContainer = Color(0xFF47201E),
+    onErrorContainer = Color(0xFFFFB4AF),
+)
+
+/** Wrap the app content in the SHONAR dark-gold theme. */
+@Composable
+fun ShonarTheme(content: @Composable () -> Unit) {
+    MaterialTheme(colorScheme = ShonarDarkScheme, content = content)
+}