diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatHeader.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatHeader.kt
index e76dba4c..d4372157 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatHeader.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatHeader.kt
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ fun PeerCounter(
                 imageVector = Icons.Filled.Email,
                 contentDescription = "Unread private messages",
                 modifier = Modifier.size(16.dp),
-                tint = Color(0xFFFF8C00) // Orange to match private message theme
+                tint = Color(0xFFFF9500) // Orange to match private message theme
             )
             Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(6.dp))
         }
@@ -201,19 +201,18 @@ private fun PrivateChatHeader(
     val colorScheme = MaterialTheme.colorScheme
     val peerNickname = peerNicknames[peerID] ?: peerID
     
-    Row(
-        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
-        horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween,
-        verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
-    ) {
-        // Fixed: Make back button wider to prevent text cropping
+    Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
+        // Back button - positioned all the way to the left with minimal margin
         Button(
             onClick = onBackClick,
             colors = ButtonDefaults.buttonColors(
                 containerColor = Color.Transparent,
                 contentColor = colorScheme.primary
             ),
-            contentPadding = PaddingValues(horizontal = 12.dp, vertical = 4.dp)
+            contentPadding = PaddingValues(horizontal = 4.dp, vertical = 4.dp), // Reduced horizontal padding
+            modifier = Modifier
+                .align(Alignment.CenterStart)
+                .offset(x = (-8).dp) // Move even further left to minimize margin
         ) {
             Row(
                 verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
@@ -233,27 +232,30 @@ private fun PrivateChatHeader(
             }
         }
         
-        Spacer(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
-        
-        Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+        // Title - perfectly centered regardless of other elements
+        Row(
+            verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
+            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.Center)
+        ) {
             Icon(
                 imageVector = Icons.Filled.Lock,
                 contentDescription = "Private chat",
                 modifier = Modifier.size(16.dp),
-                tint = Color(0xFFFF8C00) // Orange to match private message theme
+                tint = Color(0xFFFF9500) // Orange to match private message theme
             )
             Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(4.dp))
             Text(
                 text = peerNickname,
                 style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium,
-                color = Color(0xFFFF8C00) // Orange
+                color = Color(0xFFFF9500) // Orange
             )
         }
         
-        Spacer(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
-        
-        // Favorite button with proper filled/outlined star
-        IconButton(onClick = onToggleFavorite) {
+        // Favorite button - positioned on the right
+        IconButton(
+            onClick = onToggleFavorite,
+            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.CenterEnd)
+        ) {
             Icon(
                 imageVector = if (isFavorite) Icons.Filled.Star else Icons.Outlined.Star,
                 contentDescription = if (isFavorite) "Remove from favorites" else "Add to favorites",
@@ -273,12 +275,19 @@ private fun ChannelHeader(
 ) {
     val colorScheme = MaterialTheme.colorScheme
     
-    Row(
-        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
-        horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween,
-        verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
-    ) {
-        IconButton(onClick = onBackClick) {
+    Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
+        // Back button - positioned all the way to the left with minimal margin
+        Button(
+            onClick = onBackClick,
+            colors = ButtonDefaults.buttonColors(
+                containerColor = Color.Transparent,
+                contentColor = colorScheme.primary
+            ),
+            contentPadding = PaddingValues(horizontal = 4.dp, vertical = 4.dp), // Reduced horizontal padding
+            modifier = Modifier
+                .align(Alignment.CenterStart)
+                .offset(x = (-8).dp) // Move even further left to minimize margin
+        ) {
             Row(
                 verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
             ) {
@@ -297,18 +306,21 @@ private fun ChannelHeader(
             }
         }
         
-        Spacer(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
-        
+        // Title - perfectly centered regardless of other elements
         Text(
             text = "channel: $channel",
             style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium,
-            color = Color(0xFF0080FF), // Blue
-            modifier = Modifier.clickable { onSidebarClick() }
+            color = Color(0xFFFF9500), // Orange to match input field
+            modifier = Modifier
+                .align(Alignment.Center)
+                .clickable { onSidebarClick() }
         )
         
-        Spacer(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
-        
-        TextButton(onClick = onLeaveChannel) {
+        // Leave button - positioned on the right
+        TextButton(
+            onClick = onLeaveChannel,
+            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.CenterEnd)
+        ) {
             Text(
                 text = "leave",
                 style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatUIUtils.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatUIUtils.kt
index 6972106f..9d0a1476 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatUIUtils.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatUIUtils.kt
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ private fun appendFormattedContent(
             }
             "mention" -> {
                 builder.pushStyle(SpanStyle(
-                    color = Color(0xFFFF8C00), // Orange
+                    color = Color(0xFFFF9500), // Orange
                     fontSize = 14.sp,
                     fontWeight = FontWeight.SemiBold
                 ))
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt
index cc25dc4f..761b502b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/InputComponents.kt
@@ -44,20 +44,17 @@ fun MessageInput(
         modifier = modifier.padding(horizontal = 12.dp, vertical = 8.dp), // Reduced padding
         verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
     ) {
-        // Fixed: Remove arrow from private message input
+        // Remove arrow from both private and channel inputs to match DM style
         Text(
-            text = when {
-                selectedPrivatePeer != null -> "<@$nickname>"  // Removed arrow for private
-                currentChannel != null -> "<@$nickname> →"  // Keep arrow for channels
-                else -> "<@$nickname>"
-            },
+            text = "<@$nickname>",  // No arrow for both private and channel
             style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall.copy(fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium),
             color = when {
-                selectedPrivatePeer != null -> Color(0xFFFF8C00) // Orange for private
-                currentChannel != null -> Color(0xFFFF8C00) // Orange if encrypted channel
+                selectedPrivatePeer != null -> Color(0xFFFF9500) // Orange for private
+                currentChannel != null -> Color(0xFFFF9500) // Orange for channels too
                 else -> colorScheme.primary
             },
-            fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace
+            fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace,
+            fontSize = 14.sp
         )
         
         Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(8.dp))
@@ -78,7 +75,7 @@ fun MessageInput(
         
         Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(8.dp)) // Reduced spacing
         
-        // Fixed: Make send button orange in private mode to match nickname color
+        // Update send button to match input field colors
         IconButton(
             onClick = onSend,
             modifier = Modifier.size(32.dp)
@@ -87,9 +84,9 @@ fun MessageInput(
                 modifier = Modifier
                     .size(30.dp)
                     .background(
-                        color = if (selectedPrivatePeer != null) {
-                            // Orange for private messages to match nickname color
-                            Color(0xFFFF8C00).copy(alpha = 0.75f)
+                        color = if (selectedPrivatePeer != null || currentChannel != null) {
+                            // Orange for both private messages and channels to match nickname color
+                            Color(0xFFFF9500).copy(alpha = 0.75f)
                         } else if (colorScheme.background == Color.Black) {
                             Color(0xFF00FF00).copy(alpha = 0.75f) // Bright green for dark theme
                         } else {
@@ -100,11 +97,11 @@ fun MessageInput(
                 contentAlignment = Alignment.Center
             ) {
                 Icon(
-                    imageVector = Icons.Filled.KeyboardArrowUp,
+                    imageVector = Icons.Filled.KeyboardArrowRight,
                     contentDescription = "Send message",
                     modifier = Modifier.size(20.dp),
-                    tint = if (selectedPrivatePeer != null) {
-                        // Black arrow on orange in private mode
+                    tint = if (selectedPrivatePeer != null || currentChannel != null) {
+                        // Black arrow on orange for both private and channel modes
                         Color.Black
                     } else if (colorScheme.background == Color.Black) {
                         Color.Black // Black arrow on bright green in dark theme
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/SidebarComponents.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/SidebarComponents.kt
index e97b6446..a7ee2c4f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/SidebarComponents.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/SidebarComponents.kt
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ fun ChannelsSection(
                 verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
             ) {
                 Text(
-                    text = "#$channel",
+                    text = channel, // Channel already contains the # prefix
                     style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
                     color = if (isSelected) colorScheme.primary else colorScheme.onSurface,
                     fontWeight = if (isSelected) FontWeight.Medium else FontWeight.Normal,
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ private fun PeerItem(
                 imageVector = Icons.Filled.Email,
                 contentDescription = "Unread messages",
                 modifier = Modifier.size(16.dp),
-                tint = Color(0xFFFF8C00) // Orange to match private message theme
+                tint = Color(0xFFFF9500) // Orange to match private message theme
             )
         } else {
             // Signal strength indicators