diff --git a/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs b/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs
index 87b2bb5..cfe53c4 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::de::Error as _;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer};
 
 /// Directory name under `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` (default `~/.config`).
 pub const DIR_NAME: &str = "maestro";
@@ -146,11 +147,14 @@ pub struct WebSection {
 
 /// `[tui]` — `maestro tui` settings (NAP-275 epic, phase 2 NAP-277).
 ///
-/// Leader key, chord timeout, and per-mode keymap overrides. The TUI ships
-/// with a default keymap; entries in `keymap_normal` / `keymap_insert` are
-/// applied **over** the defaults, so a partial override is enough.
+/// Theme, leader key, chord timeout, and per-mode keymap overrides. The TUI
+/// ships with a default keymap; entries in `keymap_normal` / `keymap_insert`
+/// are applied **over** the defaults, so a partial override is enough.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Deserialize)]
 pub struct TuiSection {
+    /// Named palette preset. Defaults to the dark preset.
+    #[serde(default, deserialize_with = "deserialize_theme")]
+    pub theme: Option<TuiTheme>,
     /// Canonical key form, e.g. `"ctrl-a"`. Default `ctrl-a`.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub leader: Option<String>,
@@ -167,6 +171,33 @@ pub struct TuiSection {
     pub keymap_insert: BTreeMap<String, String>,
 }
 
+/// Palette presets supported by the TUI's `[tui].theme` setting.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum TuiTheme {
+    /// The terminal-native dark palette and the default.
+    Dark,
+    /// A high-contrast light palette.
+    Light,
+    /// Named ANSI colours, allowing the terminal to provide the colour set.
+    Ansi,
+}
+
+fn deserialize_theme<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Option<TuiTheme>, D::Error>
+where
+    D: Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    let raw = Option::<String>::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+    raw.map(|name| match name.as_str() {
+        "dark" => Ok(TuiTheme::Dark),
+        "light" => Ok(TuiTheme::Light),
+        "ansi" => Ok(TuiTheme::Ansi),
+        _ => Err(D::Error::custom(format!(
+            "invalid [tui].theme {name:?}; expected \"dark\", \"light\", or \"ansi\""
+        ))),
+    })
+    .transpose()
+}
+
 /// `[spawn]` — command presets for the spawn form (#22, part of #21).
 ///
 /// Defined in shared config so every binary sees the same list: the web reads
@@ -596,6 +627,30 @@ bind_addr = "127.0.0.1:9090"
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn tui_theme_parses_named_presets_and_defaults_when_absent() {
+        assert_eq!(TuiSection::default().theme, None);
+        let cfg = file_with("[tui]\ntheme = \"light\"\n");
+        assert_eq!(cfg.tui.theme, Some(TuiTheme::Light));
+        let cfg = file_with("[tui]\ntheme = \"ansi\"\n");
+        assert_eq!(cfg.tui.theme, Some(TuiTheme::Ansi));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tui_theme_rejects_unknown_names_with_the_field_name() {
+        let err =
+            toml::from_str::<MaestroConfigFile>("[tui]\ntheme = \"solarized\"\n").unwrap_err();
+        let message = err.to_string();
+        assert!(
+            message.contains("[tui].theme"),
+            "diagnostic should name the field: {message}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            message.contains("solarized"),
+            "diagnostic should name the invalid value: {message}"
+        );
+    }
+
     fn file_with(body: &str) -> MaestroConfigFile {
         toml::from_str(body).expect("parse")
     }
diff --git a/crates/maestro-tui/src/config.rs b/crates/maestro-tui/src/config.rs
index 790e6bd..4b305ea 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-tui/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-tui/src/config.rs
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@
 
 use std::time::Duration;
 
-use maestro_config::TuiSection;
+use maestro_config::{TuiSection, TuiTheme};
 
 use crate::input::InputKey;
 use crate::keymap::{Keymap, KeymapError, Mode};
+use crate::palette::Palette;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct TuiConfig {
+    pub palette: Palette,
     pub leader: InputKey,
     pub chord_timeout: Duration,
     pub keymap: Keymap,
@@ -76,6 +78,11 @@ impl TuiConfig {
     /// field of the loaded `MaestroConfigFile`). The shipped defaults are
     /// applied first, then user overrides on top.
     pub fn load(section: &TuiSection) -> Result<Self, TuiConfigError> {
+        let palette = match section.theme.unwrap_or(TuiTheme::Dark) {
+            TuiTheme::Dark => Palette::DARK,
+            TuiTheme::Light => Palette::LIGHT,
+            TuiTheme::Ansi => Palette::ANSI,
+        };
         let leader_str = section.leader.as_deref().unwrap_or("ctrl-a");
         let leader = InputKey::parse(leader_str)
             .map_err(|_| TuiConfigError::BadLeader(leader_str.to_string()))?;
@@ -131,6 +138,7 @@ impl TuiConfig {
         }
 
         Ok(TuiConfig {
+            palette,
             leader,
             chord_timeout,
             keymap,
@@ -143,6 +151,28 @@ impl TuiConfig {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::action::Action;
+    use maestro_config::{TuiSection, TuiTheme};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn absent_theme_selects_the_dark_default() {
+        let cfg = TuiConfig::load(&TuiSection::default()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cfg.palette, Palette::DARK);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn named_themes_select_the_matching_complete_palette() {
+        for (theme, expected) in [
+            (TuiTheme::Dark, Palette::DARK),
+            (TuiTheme::Light, Palette::LIGHT),
+            (TuiTheme::Ansi, Palette::ANSI),
+        ] {
+            let section = TuiSection {
+                theme: Some(theme),
+                ..Default::default()
+            };
+            assert_eq!(TuiConfig::load(&section).unwrap().palette, expected);
+        }
+    }
 
     #[test]
     fn defaults_cover_core_actions() {
diff --git a/crates/maestro-tui/src/lib.rs b/crates/maestro-tui/src/lib.rs
index 7e5d0d6..97bc354 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-tui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-tui/src/lib.rs
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ pub async fn run(cfg: RunConfig) -> Result<(), TuiError> {
         Err(_) => maestro_config::MaestroConfigFile::default(),
     };
     let tui_cfg = TuiConfig::load(&cfg_file.tui).map_err(|e| TuiError::Config(e.to_string()))?;
+    palette::set_active(tui_cfg.palette);
 
     let catalog = CatalogStore::default();
     let ws_url = daemon
diff --git a/crates/maestro-tui/src/palette.rs b/crates/maestro-tui/src/palette.rs
index cf8603e..49909e0 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-tui/src/palette.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-tui/src/palette.rs
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@
 //! the selected card uses the selection surface's own state colours; the dot
 //! keeps carrying the state either way (docs/SIDEBAR.md).
 //!
-//! One palette ships today, reached through [`active`]. Selecting between
-//! presets from config is a separate issue; [`active`] is the seam it
-//! replaces.
+//! [`Palette::DARK`] is the default. [`Palette::LIGHT`] is its light peer and
+//! [`Palette::ANSI`] uses terminal-provided ANSI colours.
 //!
 //! Out of scope: PTY cell colours. Those belong to the program running in the
 //! pane and pass through `pane::translate_color` verbatim.
@@ -130,40 +129,162 @@ pub struct Palette {
 }
 
 impl Palette {
-    /// The one palette that ships today.
-    pub const DEFAULT: Palette = Palette {
+    /// The dark terminal-native palette and the default preset.
+    pub const DARK: Palette = Palette {
         card: Surface {
-            bg: Color::Rgb(0x14, 0x16, 0x1b),
-            fg: Color::Rgb(0xd6, 0xdc, 0xe5),
-            muted: Color::Rgb(0x9a, 0xa3, 0xb2),
-            dim: Color::Rgb(0x6b, 0x72, 0x80),
-            active: Color::Rgb(0x3f, 0xb9, 0x50),
-            idle: Color::Rgb(0x8b, 0x94, 0x9e),
-            awaiting: Color::Rgb(0xd2, 0x99, 0x22),
-            error: Color::Rgb(0xf8, 0x51, 0x49),
+            bg: Color::Rgb(0x1f, 0x23, 0x2b),
+            fg: Color::Rgb(0xe5, 0xe7, 0xeb),
+            muted: Color::Rgb(0xae, 0xb7, 0xc4),
+            dim: Color::Rgb(0x85, 0x8f, 0x9e),
+            active: Color::Rgb(0x72, 0xd6, 0x87),
+            idle: Color::Rgb(0xae, 0xb7, 0xc4),
+            awaiting: Color::Rgb(0xf2, 0xc9, 0x5c),
+            error: Color::Rgb(0xff, 0x82, 0x7a),
         },
         selection: Surface {
-            bg: Color::Rgb(0x2b, 0x3f, 0x6e),
-            fg: Color::Rgb(0xf0, 0xf4, 0xfa),
-            muted: Color::Rgb(0xc0, 0xc9, 0xda),
-            dim: Color::Rgb(0x93, 0xa0, 0xbc),
-            active: Color::Rgb(0x7e, 0xe7, 0x87),
-            idle: Color::Rgb(0xb6, 0xc0, 0xd4),
-            awaiting: Color::Rgb(0xf2, 0xcc, 0x60),
-            error: Color::Rgb(0xff, 0x94, 0x92),
+            bg: Color::Rgb(0x3d, 0x51, 0x44),
+            fg: Color::Rgb(0xf3, 0xf7, 0xf4),
+            muted: Color::Rgb(0xd0, 0xd9, 0xd3),
+            dim: Color::Rgb(0xa1, 0xb0, 0xa6),
+            active: Color::Rgb(0x9a, 0xf0, 0xa6),
+            idle: Color::Rgb(0xc4, 0xcf, 0xc7),
+            awaiting: Color::Rgb(0xf6, 0xd9, 0x78),
+            error: Color::Rgb(0xff, 0xa8, 0xa3),
         },
-        chrome_bg: Color::Rgb(0x14, 0x16, 0x1b),
-        border_focused: Color::Rgb(0x58, 0xa6, 0xff),
-        border_unfocused: Color::Rgb(0x6b, 0x72, 0x80),
-        focus_accent: Color::Rgb(0x58, 0xa6, 0xff),
-        group_row: Color::Rgb(0x8f, 0xa3, 0xc8),
-        mode_normal_bg: Color::Rgb(0x58, 0xa6, 0xff),
-        mode_normal_fg: Color::Rgb(0x0b, 0x0d, 0x11),
-        mode_insert_bg: Color::Rgb(0xd2, 0x99, 0x22),
-        mode_insert_fg: Color::Rgb(0x0b, 0x0d, 0x11),
-        error_text: Color::Rgb(0xf8, 0x51, 0x49),
+        chrome_bg: Color::Rgb(0x1f, 0x23, 0x2b),
+        border_focused: Color::Rgb(0x72, 0xd6, 0x87),
+        border_unfocused: Color::Rgb(0x68, 0x73, 0x84),
+        focus_accent: Color::Rgb(0x72, 0xd6, 0x87),
+        group_row: Color::Rgb(0xb6, 0xc1, 0xd3),
+        mode_normal_bg: Color::Rgb(0x72, 0xd6, 0x87),
+        mode_normal_fg: Color::Rgb(0x1f, 0x23, 0x2b),
+        mode_insert_bg: Color::Rgb(0xf2, 0xc9, 0x5c),
+        mode_insert_fg: Color::Rgb(0x1f, 0x23, 0x2b),
+        error_text: Color::Rgb(0xff, 0x82, 0x7a),
     };
 
+    /// A high-contrast light peer to [`Self::DARK`].
+    pub const LIGHT: Palette = Palette {
+        card: Surface {
+            bg: Color::Rgb(0xff, 0xff, 0xff),
+            fg: Color::Rgb(0x27, 0x31, 0x3d),
+            muted: Color::Rgb(0x4c, 0x5b, 0x6b),
+            dim: Color::Rgb(0x68, 0x78, 0x8a),
+            active: Color::Rgb(0x21, 0x7a, 0x3c),
+            idle: Color::Rgb(0x4c, 0x5b, 0x6b),
+            awaiting: Color::Rgb(0x8f, 0x63, 0x00),
+            error: Color::Rgb(0xb4, 0x23, 0x18),
+        },
+        selection: Surface {
+            bg: Color::Rgb(0xb5, 0xcf, 0xba),
+            fg: Color::Rgb(0x1d, 0x2a, 0x24),
+            muted: Color::Rgb(0x3f, 0x55, 0x45),
+            dim: Color::Rgb(0x52, 0x68, 0x5a),
+            active: Color::Rgb(0x15, 0x5b, 0x2e),
+            idle: Color::Rgb(0x3f, 0x55, 0x45),
+            awaiting: Color::Rgb(0x69, 0x46, 0x00),
+            error: Color::Rgb(0xa5, 0x1d, 0x14),
+        },
+        chrome_bg: Color::Rgb(0xff, 0xff, 0xff),
+        border_focused: Color::Rgb(0x21, 0x7a, 0x3c),
+        border_unfocused: Color::Rgb(0x65, 0x73, 0x6b),
+        focus_accent: Color::Rgb(0x21, 0x7a, 0x3c),
+        group_row: Color::Rgb(0x3f, 0x55, 0x45),
+        mode_normal_bg: Color::Rgb(0x21, 0x7a, 0x3c),
+        mode_normal_fg: Color::Rgb(0xff, 0xff, 0xff),
+        mode_insert_bg: Color::Rgb(0xb6, 0x81, 0x08),
+        mode_insert_fg: Color::Rgb(0x0b, 0x12, 0x0e),
+        error_text: Color::Rgb(0xb4, 0x23, 0x18),
+    };
+
+    /// A palette of named ANSI colours for terminals without truecolour.
+    pub const ANSI: Palette = Palette {
+        card: Surface {
+            bg: Color::Black,
+            fg: Color::White,
+            muted: Color::Gray,
+            dim: Color::DarkGray,
+            active: Color::Green,
+            idle: Color::Gray,
+            awaiting: Color::Yellow,
+            error: Color::Red,
+        },
+        selection: Surface {
+            bg: Color::Blue,
+            fg: Color::White,
+            muted: Color::White,
+            dim: Color::LightBlue,
+            active: Color::LightGreen,
+            idle: Color::White,
+            awaiting: Color::LightYellow,
+            error: Color::LightRed,
+        },
+        chrome_bg: Color::Black,
+        border_focused: Color::LightGreen,
+        border_unfocused: Color::DarkGray,
+        focus_accent: Color::LightGreen,
+        group_row: Color::LightCyan,
+        mode_normal_bg: Color::Green,
+        mode_normal_fg: Color::Black,
+        mode_insert_bg: Color::Yellow,
+        mode_insert_fg: Color::Black,
+        error_text: Color::LightRed,
+    };
+
+    /// The default preset, retained as a named compatibility constant.
+    pub const DEFAULT: Palette = Self::DARK;
+
+    /// All preset names and their complete palettes.
+    pub fn presets() -> [(&'static str, Palette); 3] {
+        [
+            ("dark", Self::DARK),
+            ("light", Self::LIGHT),
+            ("ansi", Self::ANSI),
+        ]
+    }
+
+    /// Resolve a config name to a palette.
+    pub fn named(name: &str) -> Option<Palette> {
+        match name {
+            "dark" => Some(Self::DARK),
+            "light" => Some(Self::LIGHT),
+            "ansi" => Some(Self::ANSI),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Every role, including the backgrounds it is painted against.
+    pub fn roles(&self) -> [(&'static str, Color); 26] {
+        [
+            ("card.bg", self.card.bg),
+            ("card.fg", self.card.fg),
+            ("card.muted", self.card.muted),
+            ("card.dim", self.card.dim),
+            ("card.active", self.card.active),
+            ("card.idle", self.card.idle),
+            ("card.awaiting", self.card.awaiting),
+            ("card.error", self.card.error),
+            ("selection.bg", self.selection.bg),
+            ("selection.fg", self.selection.fg),
+            ("selection.muted", self.selection.muted),
+            ("selection.dim", self.selection.dim),
+            ("selection.active", self.selection.active),
+            ("selection.idle", self.selection.idle),
+            ("selection.awaiting", self.selection.awaiting),
+            ("selection.error", self.selection.error),
+            ("chrome_bg", self.chrome_bg),
+            ("border_focused", self.border_focused),
+            ("border_unfocused", self.border_unfocused),
+            ("focus_accent", self.focus_accent),
+            ("group_row", self.group_row),
+            ("mode_normal_bg", self.mode_normal_bg),
+            ("mode_normal_fg", self.mode_normal_fg),
+            ("mode_insert_bg", self.mode_insert_bg),
+            ("mode_insert_fg", self.mode_insert_fg),
+            ("error_text", self.error_text),
+        ]
+    }
+
     /// The surface a card sits on: the selection surface when it is the
     /// highlighted card, the card surface otherwise.
     pub fn surface(&self, selected: bool) -> &Surface {
@@ -218,9 +339,20 @@ impl Default for Palette {
     }
 }
 
-/// The palette in force. Config-driven preset selection lands here.
+fn active_slot() -> &'static std::sync::RwLock<Palette> {
+    static ACTIVE: std::sync::OnceLock<std::sync::RwLock<Palette>> = std::sync::OnceLock::new();
+    ACTIVE.get_or_init(|| std::sync::RwLock::new(Palette::DEFAULT))
+}
+
+/// Set the palette used by the running TUI.
+pub(crate) fn set_active(palette: Palette) {
+    *active_slot().write().expect("active palette lock poisoned") = palette;
+}
+
+/// The palette in force. Config-driven preset selection lands here at TUI
+/// startup, before the first frame is drawn.
 pub fn active() -> Palette {
-    Palette::DEFAULT
+    *active_slot().read().expect("active palette lock poisoned")
 }
 
 /// WCAG relative luminance of an RGB role. Non-RGB colours have no fixed
@@ -264,30 +396,43 @@ mod tests {
     /// decoration and only has to clear the 3:1 non-text threshold.
     #[test]
     fn every_role_is_legible_on_its_own_surface() {
-        let p = active();
-        for (name, surface) in [("card", &p.card), ("selection", &p.selection)] {
-            for (role, color) in surface.roles() {
-                let ratio = contrast_ratio(surface.bg, color)
-                    .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("{name}.{role} must be an RGB value"));
-                let floor = if role == "dim" { 3.0 } else { 4.5 };
-                assert!(
-                    ratio >= floor,
-                    "{name}.{role} contrast {ratio:.2} is below {floor}"
-                );
+        for (preset, p) in [("dark", Palette::DARK), ("light", Palette::LIGHT)] {
+            for (surface_name, surface) in [("card", &p.card), ("selection", &p.selection)] {
+                for (role, color) in surface.roles() {
+                    let ratio = contrast_ratio(surface.bg, color)
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("{preset}.{surface_name}.{role} must be RGB"));
+                    let floor = if role == "dim" { 3.0 } else { 4.5 };
+                    assert!(
+                        ratio >= floor,
+                        "{preset}.{surface_name}.{role} contrast {ratio:.2} is below {floor}"
+                    );
+                }
             }
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn every_preset_supplies_every_role() {
+        for (name, p) in Palette::presets() {
+            assert_eq!(p.roles().len(), 26, "{name} role set is incomplete");
+        }
+        assert_eq!(Palette::named("dark"), Some(Palette::DARK));
+        assert_eq!(Palette::named("light"), Some(Palette::LIGHT));
+        assert_eq!(Palette::named("ansi"), Some(Palette::ANSI));
+        assert_eq!(Palette::named("unknown"), None);
+    }
+
     /// The selection background exists to be seen as a different surface, not
     /// merely a slightly different shade of the card.
     #[test]
     fn selection_background_is_distinguishable_from_the_card_background() {
-        let p = active();
-        let ratio = contrast_ratio(p.card.bg, p.selection.bg).unwrap();
-        assert!(
-            ratio >= 1.6,
-            "card and selection backgrounds differ by only {ratio:.2}"
-        );
+        for (name, p) in [("dark", Palette::DARK), ("light", Palette::LIGHT)] {
+            let ratio = contrast_ratio(p.card.bg, p.selection.bg).unwrap();
+            assert!(
+                ratio >= 1.6,
+                "{name} card and selection backgrounds differ by only {ratio:.2}"
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     /// The bug this palette fixes: a state colour chosen for the dark card
@@ -295,13 +440,14 @@ mod tests {
     /// selection surface carries its own — distinct — state colours.
     #[test]
     fn selection_state_colours_are_not_the_card_state_colours() {
-        let p = active();
-        for state in STATES {
-            assert_ne!(
-                p.card.activity(state),
-                p.selection.activity(state),
-                "{state:?} must have a selection-specific colour"
-            );
+        for (name, p) in Palette::presets() {
+            for state in STATES {
+                assert_ne!(
+                    p.card.activity(state),
+                    p.selection.activity(state),
+                    "{name} {state:?} must have a selection-specific colour"
+                );
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -310,44 +456,37 @@ mod tests {
     /// actually painted on; they must never rely on the terminal default.
     #[test]
     fn chrome_roles_are_rgb_values() {
-        let p = active();
-        for (name, color) in [
-            ("chrome_bg", p.chrome_bg),
-            ("border_focused", p.border_focused),
-            ("border_unfocused", p.border_unfocused),
-            ("focus_accent", p.focus_accent),
-            ("group_row", p.group_row),
-            ("mode_normal_bg", p.mode_normal_bg),
-            ("mode_normal_fg", p.mode_normal_fg),
-            ("mode_insert_bg", p.mode_insert_bg),
-            ("mode_insert_fg", p.mode_insert_fg),
-            ("error_text", p.error_text),
-        ] {
-            assert!(
-                relative_luminance(color).is_some(),
-                "{name} must be an RGB value"
-            );
-        }
-        // The mode indicator paints fg on bg; both pairs must stay readable.
-        for (name, fg, bg) in [
-            ("normal", p.mode_normal_fg, p.mode_normal_bg),
-            ("insert", p.mode_insert_fg, p.mode_insert_bg),
-        ] {
-            let ratio = contrast_ratio(fg, bg).unwrap();
-            assert!(ratio >= 4.5, "mode {name} contrast {ratio:.2} is below 4.5");
-        }
-        for (name, fg, floor) in [
-            ("border_focused", p.border_focused, 3.0),
-            ("border_unfocused", p.border_unfocused, 3.0),
-            ("focus_accent", p.focus_accent, 3.0),
-            ("group_row", p.group_row, 4.5),
-            ("error_text", p.error_text, 4.5),
-        ] {
-            let ratio = contrast_ratio(fg, p.chrome_bg).unwrap();
-            assert!(
-                ratio >= floor,
-                "{name} contrast {ratio:.2} is below {floor} on chrome_bg"
-            );
+        for (preset, p) in [("dark", Palette::DARK), ("light", Palette::LIGHT)] {
+            for (name, color) in p.roles().into_iter().skip(16) {
+                assert!(
+                    relative_luminance(color).is_some(),
+                    "{preset}.{name} must be an RGB value"
+                );
+            }
+            // The mode indicator paints fg on bg; both pairs must stay readable.
+            for (name, fg, bg) in [
+                ("normal", p.mode_normal_fg, p.mode_normal_bg),
+                ("insert", p.mode_insert_fg, p.mode_insert_bg),
+            ] {
+                let ratio = contrast_ratio(fg, bg).unwrap();
+                assert!(
+                    ratio >= 4.5,
+                    "{preset} mode {name} contrast {ratio:.2} is below 4.5"
+                );
+            }
+            for (name, fg, floor) in [
+                ("border_focused", p.border_focused, 3.0),
+                ("border_unfocused", p.border_unfocused, 3.0),
+                ("focus_accent", p.focus_accent, 3.0),
+                ("group_row", p.group_row, 4.5),
+                ("error_text", p.error_text, 4.5),
+            ] {
+                let ratio = contrast_ratio(fg, p.chrome_bg).unwrap();
+                assert!(
+                    ratio >= floor,
+                    "{preset}.{name} contrast {ratio:.2} is below {floor} on chrome_bg"
+                );
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/docs/INSTALL.md b/docs/INSTALL.md
index 73a966d..c9101bf 100644
--- a/docs/INSTALL.md
+++ b/docs/INSTALL.md
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ cover every v1 action — only override what you want to change:
 
 ```toml
 [tui]
+theme = "dark"              # dark (default), light, or ansi
 leader = "ctrl-a"            # one byte that escapes Insert mode
 chord_timeout_ms = 1000      # how long to hold a partial chord like `g`
 
@@ -152,6 +153,11 @@ chord_timeout_ms = 1000      # how long to hold a partial chord like `g`
 # want extra Insert-mode bindings)
 ```
 
+`theme` selects the complete TUI palette. `dark` is the default and follows
+Maestro's terminal-native dark product palette; `light` is its light peer;
+`ansi` uses the terminal's named ANSI colours for terminals without truecolour.
+An unknown name is rejected as an `[tui].theme` configuration error.
+
 The full action vocabulary is the `Action` enum in
 `crates/maestro-tui/src/action.rs`.