diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index f8b1051..4e13732 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -3326,7 +3326,8 @@ in
                                 SText {
                                     anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
                                     text: "@${osConfig.networking.hostName}"
-                                    color: Theme.base03
+                                    color: Theme.base05
+                                    opacity: 0.5
                                 }
                             }
 
@@ -3898,7 +3899,8 @@ in
                                     anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
                                     visible: searchInput.text === ""
                                     text: launcherPanel.activeCat === "" ? "Search apps, files, the web" : "Search all apps"
-                                    color: Theme.base03
+                                    color: Theme.base05
+                                    opacity: 0.5
                                     font.pixelSize: 14
                                 }
                             }
@@ -4491,8 +4493,15 @@ in
                         SIcon {
                             anchors.centerIn: parent
                             text: volWidget.volIcon
-                            color: volWidget.muted ? Theme.base03 : Theme.base05
+                            // Dimmed base05, not base03: base03 is its own
+                            // wallpaper slot and lands off-hue from the ink
+                            // (gold against cream on 5y39p9, red on k8dqr6),
+                            // so muting the speaker changed its colour rather
+                            // than its weight.
+                            color: Theme.base05
+                            opacity: volWidget.muted ? 0.4 : 1
                             font.pixelSize: 18
+                            Behavior on opacity { NumberAnimation { duration: Theme.animFade } }
                         }
 
                         MouseArea {