diff --git a/src/apps/billboard/static/apps/billboard/note-page.js b/src/apps/billboard/static/apps/billboard/note-page.js
index 5954be6..6aa48d3 100644
--- a/src/apps/billboard/static/apps/billboard/note-page.js
+++ b/src/apps/billboard/static/apps/billboard/note-page.js
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 (function () {
     'use strict';
 
-    var _state           = 'closed';  // 'closed' | 'open' | 'previewing'
     var _selectedPalette = null;
     var _activeItem      = null;
+    var _originalPalette = null;
+    var _dismissTimer    = null;
 
     // ── helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -15,6 +16,22 @@
         return Array.from(el.classList).find(function (c) { return c.startsWith('palette-'); }) || '';
     }
 
+    function _currentBodyPalette() {
+        return Array.from(document.body.classList).find(function (c) { return c.startsWith('palette-'); }) || null;
+    }
+
+    function _swapBodyPalette(paletteName) {
+        var old = _currentBodyPalette();
+        if (old) document.body.classList.remove(old);
+        document.body.classList.add(paletteName);
+    }
+
+    function _revertBodyPalette() {
+        var current = _currentBodyPalette();
+        if (current) document.body.classList.remove(current);
+        if (_originalPalette) document.body.classList.add(_originalPalette);
+    }
+
     function _getCsrf() {
         var m = document.cookie.match(/csrftoken=([^;]+)/);
         return m ? m[1] : '';
@@ -23,7 +40,6 @@
     // ── modal lifecycle ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
     function _openModal() {
-        // Clone from <template> if the modal is not in the DOM yet.
         var existing = _activeModal();
         if (!existing) {
             var tpl = _activeItem.querySelector('.note-palette-modal-tpl');
@@ -32,15 +48,37 @@
             _activeItem.appendChild(clone);
             _wireModal();
         }
-        _state = 'open';
+        _activeItem.classList.add('note-item--active');
         var confirmEl = _activeModal().querySelector('.note-palette-confirm');
         if (confirmEl) confirmEl.hidden = true;
     }
 
     function _closeModal() {
-        _state = 'closed';
-        var modal = _activeModal();
+        clearTimeout(_dismissTimer);
+        _dismissTimer    = null;
+        var modal        = _activeModal();
         if (modal) modal.remove();
+        if (_activeItem) _activeItem.classList.remove('note-item--active');
+        _activeItem      = null;
+        _selectedPalette = null;
+        _originalPalette = null;
+    }
+
+    function _revertPreview() {
+        clearTimeout(_dismissTimer);
+        _dismissTimer = null;
+        _revertBodyPalette();
+        // Remove .previewing from any swatch in the active modal
+        var modal = _activeModal();
+        if (modal) {
+            modal.querySelectorAll('.note-swatch-body.previewing').forEach(function (s) {
+                s.classList.remove('previewing');
+            });
+            var confirmEl = modal.querySelector('.note-palette-confirm');
+            if (confirmEl) confirmEl.hidden = true;
+        }
+        _selectedPalette = null;
+        _originalPalette = null;
     }
 
     // Wire event listeners onto the freshly-cloned modal DOM.
@@ -48,28 +86,30 @@
         var modal = _activeModal();
         if (!modal) return;
 
-        // Swatch body → preview (remove modal from DOM)
+        // Swatch body click → preview palette sitewide + show confirm
         modal.querySelectorAll('.note-swatch-body').forEach(function (body) {
             body.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
                 e.stopPropagation();
-                _selectedPalette = _paletteClass(body.parentElement);
-                _state = 'previewing';
-                modal.remove();
-            });
-        });
+                // Clear any in-progress preview first
+                if (_selectedPalette) _revertPreview();
+
+                _selectedPalette = _paletteClass(body.parentElement);
+                _originalPalette = _currentBodyPalette();
+
+                body.classList.add('previewing');
+                _swapBodyPalette(_selectedPalette);
 
-        // OK button (not inside confirm submenu) → show confirm submenu
-        modal.querySelectorAll('.btn.btn-confirm').forEach(function (btn) {
-            if (btn.closest('.note-palette-confirm')) return;
-            btn.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
-                e.stopPropagation();
-                _selectedPalette = _paletteClass(btn.parentElement);
                 var confirmEl = modal.querySelector('.note-palette-confirm');
                 if (confirmEl) confirmEl.hidden = false;
+
+                // Auto-revert after 10s
+                _dismissTimer = setTimeout(function () {
+                    _revertPreview();
+                }, 10000);
             });
         });
 
-        // Confirm YES → POST and update DOM
+        // Confirm OK → commit palette sitewide
         modal.querySelectorAll('.note-palette-confirm .btn.btn-confirm').forEach(function (btn) {
             btn.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
                 e.stopPropagation();
@@ -77,15 +117,15 @@
             });
         });
 
-        // Confirm NVM → hide confirm submenu
+        // Confirm NVM → revert preview, hide confirm
         modal.querySelectorAll('.note-palette-confirm .btn.btn-cancel').forEach(function (btn) {
             btn.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
                 e.stopPropagation();
-                btn.closest('.note-palette-confirm').hidden = true;
+                _revertPreview();
             });
         });
 
-        // Stop all other modal clicks from reaching body handler.
+        // Stop modal clicks from reaching the body dismiss handler.
         modal.addEventListener('click', function (e) { e.stopPropagation(); });
     }
 
@@ -94,6 +134,8 @@
     function _doSetPalette() {
         var url     = _activeItem.dataset.setPaletteUrl;
         var palette = _selectedPalette;
+        var item    = _activeItem;
+        // Body already shows new palette from preview — keep it by not reverting.
         fetch(url, {
             method:      'POST',
             credentials: 'same-origin',
@@ -106,7 +148,7 @@
         .then(function (r) { return r.json(); })
         .then(function () {
             _closeModal();
-            var imageBox = _activeItem.querySelector('.note-item__image-box');
+            var imageBox = item.querySelector('.note-item__image-box');
             if (imageBox) {
                 var swatch = document.createElement('div');
                 swatch.className = 'note-item__palette ' + palette;
@@ -127,11 +169,10 @@
             });
         });
 
-        // Body click → restore modal when previewing
+        // Body click → dismiss modal (and revert any preview)
         document.body.addEventListener('click', function () {
-            if (_state === 'previewing') {
-                _openModal();
-            }
+            if (_selectedPalette) _revertPreview();
+            _closeModal();
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/src/apps/billboard/tests/integrated/test_views.py b/src/apps/billboard/tests/integrated/test_views.py
index 0e0c33e..ff7a1d5 100644
--- a/src/apps/billboard/tests/integrated/test_views.py
+++ b/src/apps/billboard/tests/integrated/test_views.py
@@ -259,6 +259,17 @@ class NoteSetPaletteViewTest(TestCase):
         )
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
 
+    def test_also_saves_user_palette(self):
+        """note_set_palette must persist the choice to user.palette so the
+        palette survives page navigation (sitewide commitment)."""
+        self.client.post(
+            self.url,
+            data=_json.dumps({"palette": "palette-bardo"}),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+        self.user.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(self.user.palette, "palette-bardo")
+
 
 class SaveScrollPositionTest(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/src/apps/billboard/views.py b/src/apps/billboard/views.py
index 7debcfc..44d2610 100644
--- a/src/apps/billboard/views.py
+++ b/src/apps/billboard/views.py
@@ -110,14 +110,20 @@ _NOTE_META = {
 @login_required(login_url="/")
 def note_set_palette(request, slug):
     from django.http import Http404
+    from apps.dashboard.views import _unlocked_palettes_for_user
     try:
         note = Note.objects.get(user=request.user, slug=slug)
     except Note.DoesNotExist:
         raise Http404
     if request.method == "POST":
         body = json.loads(request.body)
-        note.palette = body.get("palette", "")
+        palette = body.get("palette", "")
+        note.palette = palette
         note.save(update_fields=["palette"])
+        # Commit as the user's active sitewide palette now that the Note unlocks it.
+        if palette in _unlocked_palettes_for_user(request.user):
+            request.user.palette = palette
+            request.user.save(update_fields=["palette"])
     return JsonResponse({"ok": True})
 
 
diff --git a/src/functional_tests/test_applet_my_notes.py b/src/functional_tests/test_applet_my_notes.py
index 83fa98a..e3efe86 100644
--- a/src/functional_tests/test_applet_my_notes.py
+++ b/src/functional_tests/test_applet_my_notes.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class StargazerNoteFromDashboardTest(FunctionalTest):
         # FYI navigates to Note page
         fyi.click()
         self.wait_for(
-            lambda: self.assertRegex(self.browser.current_url, r"/billboard/recognition")
+            lambda: self.assertRegex(self.browser.current_url, r"/billboard/my-notes")
         )
 
         # Note page: one Stargazer item
@@ -172,62 +172,106 @@ class StargazerNoteFromDashboardTest(FunctionalTest):
 
     # ── T2b ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-    def test_note_page_palette_modal_flow(self):
-        """Note page palette modal: image-box opens modal, swatch preview,
-        body-click restores modal, OK raises confirm submenu, confirm sets palette."""
-        Note.objects.create(
-            user=self.gamer, slug="stargazer", earned_at=timezone.now(),
-        )
-        self.create_pre_authenticated_session("stargazer@test.io")
+    def _open_modal_and_click_bardo(self):
+        """Helper: navigate to /billboard/my-notes/, open modal, click bardo swatch body.
+        Returns (modal, confirm_menu) after the confirm bar is visible."""
         self.browser.get(self.live_server_url + "/billboard/my-notes/")
-
         image_box = self.wait_for(
             lambda: self.browser.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-item__image-box")
         )
-
-        # Clicking ? opens palette modal
         image_box.click()
         modal = self.wait_for(
             lambda: self.browser.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-palette-modal")
         )
-        modal.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".palette-bardo")
-        modal.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".palette-sheol")
-
-        # Clicking a swatch body previews the palette and dismisses the modal
         bardo_body = modal.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".palette-bardo .note-swatch-body")
         self.browser.execute_script(
             "arguments[0].dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', {bubbles: true}))",
             bardo_body,
         )
-        self.wait_for(lambda: self.assertFalse(
-            self.browser.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-palette-modal")
-        ))
-
-        # Clicking elsewhere ends preview and restores the modal
-        self.browser.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "body").click()
-        modal = self.wait_for(
-            lambda: self.browser.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-palette-modal")
-        )
-
-        # Clicking OK on the swatch raises a confirmation submenu
-        ok_btn = modal.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".palette-bardo .btn.btn-confirm")
-        ok_btn.click()
         confirm_menu = self.wait_for(
             lambda: self.browser.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-palette-confirm")
         )
+        return modal, confirm_menu
 
-        # Confirming sets palette, closes modal, replaces image-box with palette swatch
-        confirm_menu.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".btn.btn-confirm").click()
+    def test_note_page_swatch_previews_palette_sitewide_and_ok_persists(self):
+        """Clicking a swatch previews that palette on the whole body.
+        OK commits it — Note.palette and user.palette both saved — so it
+        survives navigation to a new page."""
+        Note.objects.create(
+            user=self.gamer, slug="stargazer", earned_at=timezone.now(),
+        )
+        self.create_pre_authenticated_session("stargazer@test.io")
+
+        modal, confirm = self._open_modal_and_click_bardo()
+
+        # Swatch click previews bardo on the whole body
+        self.wait_for(
+            lambda: self.assertIn(
+                "palette-bardo",
+                self.browser.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "body").get_attribute("class"),
+            )
+        )
+        # Modal still open
+        self.assertTrue(self.browser.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-palette-modal"))
+
+        # OK → modal closes, ? box replaced by bardo swatch
+        confirm.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".btn.btn-confirm").click()
         self.wait_for(lambda: self.assertFalse(
             self.browser.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-palette-modal")
         ))
         item = self.browser.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-item")
-        self.assertTrue(
-            item.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-item__palette.palette-bardo")
+        self.assertTrue(item.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-item__palette.palette-bardo"))
+        self.assertFalse(item.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-item__image-box"))
+
+        # Navigate away — palette persists (user.palette was saved)
+        self.browser.get(self.live_server_url)
+        self.wait_for(
+            lambda: self.assertIn(
+                "palette-bardo",
+                self.browser.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "body").get_attribute("class"),
+            )
         )
-        self.assertFalse(
-            item.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".note-item__image-box")
+
+    def test_note_swatch_nvm_reverts_body_palette(self):
+        """NVM in the confirm bar reverts the sitewide body palette back to
+        what it was before the swatch was clicked."""
+        Note.objects.create(
+            user=self.gamer, slug="stargazer", earned_at=timezone.now(),
         )
+        self.create_pre_authenticated_session("stargazer@test.io")
+
+        # Record the original palette before opening the modal
+        self.browser.get(self.live_server_url + "/billboard/my-notes/")
+        original_classes = self.browser.find_element(
+            By.TAG_NAME, "body"
+        ).get_attribute("class")
+        original_palette = next(
+            (c for c in original_classes.split() if c.startswith("palette-")), None
+        )
+
+        modal, confirm = self._open_modal_and_click_bardo()
+
+        # Bardo is previewed
+        self.wait_for(
+            lambda: self.assertIn(
+                "palette-bardo",
+                self.browser.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "body").get_attribute("class"),
+            )
+        )
+
+        # NVM reverts
+        confirm.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".btn.btn-cancel").click()
+        self.wait_for(
+            lambda: self.assertNotIn(
+                "palette-bardo",
+                self.browser.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "body").get_attribute("class"),
+            )
+        )
+        if original_palette:
+            self.assertIn(
+                original_palette,
+                self.browser.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "body").get_attribute("class"),
+            )
 
     # ── T2c ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
diff --git a/src/static/tests/NoteSpec.js b/src/static/tests/NoteSpec.js
index d906fae..8029e45 100644
--- a/src/static/tests/NoteSpec.js
+++ b/src/static/tests/NoteSpec.js
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ describe('Note.showBanner', () => {
 
     // ── T7 ── NVM button ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-    it('T7: banner has a .btn.btn-danger NVM button', () => {
+    it('T7: banner has a .btn.btn-cancel NVM button', () => {
         Note.showBanner(SAMPLE_NOTE);
-        expect(document.querySelector('.note-banner .btn.btn-danger')).not.toBeNull();
+        expect(document.querySelector('.note-banner .btn.btn-cancel')).not.toBeNull();
     });
 
     // ── T8 ── FYI link ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ describe('Note.showBanner', () => {
 
     it('T9: clicking the NVM button removes the banner from the DOM', () => {
         Note.showBanner(SAMPLE_NOTE);
-        document.querySelector('.note-banner .btn.btn-danger').click();
+        document.querySelector('.note-banner .btn.btn-cancel').click();
         expect(document.querySelector('.note-banner')).toBeNull();
     });
 
diff --git a/src/static_src/scss/_note.scss b/src/static_src/scss/_note.scss
index a23deee..e1bf37e 100644
--- a/src/static_src/scss/_note.scss
+++ b/src/static_src/scss/_note.scss
@@ -52,55 +52,80 @@
     list-style: none;
     padding: 0;
     margin: 0;
-    display: flex;
-    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
     gap: 1rem;
+
+    @media (min-width: 900px)  { grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); }
+    @media (min-width: 1200px) { grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr); }
 }
 
 .note-item {
     position: relative;
     display: flex;
-    flex-direction: column;
-    gap: 0.4rem;
+    flex-direction: row;
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    gap: 0.75rem;
     padding: 0.75rem;
-    background: rgba(var(--priUser), 0.06);
-    border: 1px solid rgba(var(--priUser), 0.2);
-    border-radius: 4px;
-    width: 14rem;
+    background-color: rgba(var(--tooltip-bg), 0.75);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+    border: 0.1rem solid rgba(var(--secUser), 0.4);
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+    cursor: help;
+    transition: border-color 0.15s, box-shadow 0.15s;
+
+    &:hover,
+    &:active,
+    &.note-item--active {
+        border-color: rgba(var(--terUser), 1);
+        opacity: 1;
+        box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(var(--ninUser), 0.35);
+
+        .note-item__title { color: rgba(var(--terUser), 1); }
+    }
+
+    .note-item__body {
+        flex: 1;
+        min-width: 0;
+    }
 
     .note-item__title {
         margin: 0;
         font-weight: bold;
+        font-size: 1rem;
+        transition: color 0.15s;
     }
 
     .note-item__description {
-        margin: 0;
-        font-size: 0.85rem;
+        margin: 0.25rem 0 0;
+        font-size: 0.8rem;
         opacity: 0.75;
     }
 }
 
-// Image box — must have a defined size so Selenium can interact with it.
+// Image box — right-side; must have a defined size so Selenium can interact with it.
 .note-item__image-box {
-    width: 5rem;
-    height: 5rem;
+    width: 3rem;
+    height: 3rem;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
     display: flex;
     align-items: center;
     justify-content: center;
     background: rgba(var(--priUser), 0.12);
-    border: 1px dashed rgba(var(--priUser), 0.4);
-    border-radius: 2px;
+    border: 1px dashed rgba(var(--priUser), 0.7);
+    border-radius: 0.25rem;
     cursor: pointer;
-    font-size: 1.5rem;
+    font-size: 1.2rem;
     opacity: 0.6;
 
     &:hover { opacity: 1; }
 }
 
-// Unlocked palette swatch inside a note item
+// Unlocked palette swatch (right side, same footprint as image-box)
 .note-item__palette {
-    width: 5rem;
-    height: 5rem;
+    width: 3rem;
+    height: 3rem;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
     border-radius: 2px;
     border: 2px solid rgba(var(--priUser), 0.4);
 }
@@ -112,12 +137,13 @@
     top: 0;
     left: 0;
     z-index: 200;
-    background: var(--bg, #1a1a1a);
-    border: 1px solid rgba(var(--priUser), 0.4);
-    border-radius: 4px;
+    background-color: rgba(var(--tooltip-bg), 0.92);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
+    border: 0.1rem solid rgba(var(--secUser), 0.4);
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
     padding: 0.75rem;
     gap: 0.5rem;
-    min-width: 12rem;
+    min-width: 10rem;
 
     &:not([hidden]) { display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
 
@@ -130,12 +156,34 @@
         .note-swatch-body {
             width: 2.5rem;
             height: 2.5rem;
-            border-radius: 2px;
+            border-radius: 0.25rem;
             cursor: pointer;
-            border: 2px solid rgba(var(--priUser), 0.3);
+            // Gradient uses vars scoped to the parent palette-* class,
+            // so each swatch shows its own palette's colours (same as .swatch).
+            background: linear-gradient(
+                to bottom,
+                rgba(var(--secUser), 1) 0%,
+                rgba(var(--secUser), 1) 30%,
+                rgba(var(--priUser), 1) 30%,
+                rgba(var(--priUser), 1) 70%,
+                rgba(var(--terUser), 1) 70%,
+                rgba(var(--terUser), 1) 85%,
+                rgba(var(--quaUser), 1) 85%,
+                rgba(var(--quaUser), 1) 100%
+            );
+            border: 0.15rem solid rgba(var(--secUser), 0.5);
             flex-shrink: 0;
+            transition: border-color 0.12s, box-shadow 0.12s;
 
-            &:hover { border-color: rgba(var(--priUser), 0.8); }
+            &:hover {
+                border-color: rgba(var(--terUser), 1);
+                box-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(var(--ninUser), 0.3);
+            }
+
+            &.previewing {
+                border: 0.2rem solid rgba(var(--ninUser), 1);
+                box-shadow: 0 0 0.75rem rgba(var(--ninUser), 0.6);
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -152,16 +200,25 @@
     background: #1a1a2e;
 }
 
-// ── Confirm submenu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// ── Confirm submenu — floats below modal, out of its flow ─────────────────
 
 .note-palette-confirm {
-    border-top: 1px solid rgba(var(--priUser), 0.2);
-    padding-top: 0.5rem;
+    position: absolute;
+    top: calc(100% + 4px);
+    left: 0;
+    right: 0;
+    z-index: 201;
+    background-color: rgba(var(--tooltip-bg), 0.92);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
+    border: 0.1rem solid rgba(var(--secUser), 0.4);
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+    padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
     gap: 0.4rem;
 
-    &:not([hidden]) { display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
+    &:not([hidden]) { display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center; gap: 0.5rem; }
 
     p {
+        flex: 1;
         margin: 0;
         font-size: 0.85rem;
     }
diff --git a/src/templates/apps/billboard/my_notes.html b/src/templates/apps/billboard/my_notes.html
index 89fdc80..b07088b 100644
--- a/src/templates/apps/billboard/my_notes.html
+++ b/src/templates/apps/billboard/my_notes.html
@@ -12,22 +12,23 @@
         <li class="note-item" data-slug="{{ item.obj.slug }}"
             data-set-palette-url="{% url 'billboard:note_set_palette' item.obj.slug %}">
 
+            <div class="note-item__body">
+                <p class="note-item__title">{{ item.title }}</p>
+                <p class="note-item__description">{{ item.description }}</p>
+            </div>
+
             {% if item.obj.palette %}
             <div class="note-item__palette {{ item.obj.palette }}"></div>
             {% else %}
             <div class="note-item__image-box">?</div>
             {% endif %}
 
-            <p class="note-item__title">{{ item.title }}</p>
-            <p class="note-item__description">{{ item.description }}</p>
-
             {% if not item.obj.palette and item.palette_options %}
             <template class="note-palette-modal-tpl">
                 <div class="note-palette-modal">
                     {% for palette_name in item.palette_options %}
                     <div class="{{ palette_name }}">
                         <div class="note-swatch-body"></div>
-                        <button type="button" class="btn btn-confirm">OK</button>
                     </div>
                     {% endfor %}
                     <div class="note-palette-confirm" hidden>