diff --git a/src/lib/components/ColorPicker.svelte b/src/lib/components/ColorPicker.svelte
index 4cf171b..1ab4d28 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/ColorPicker.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/ColorPicker.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { COLOR_OPTIONS, getNoteColor } from '$lib/utils/colors.js';
+	import { COLOR_OPTIONS, getNoteChip } from '$lib/utils/colors.js';
 	import { getIsDarkMode } from '$lib/utils/theme.svelte.js';
 	import type { NoteColor } from '$lib/types/index.js';
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 		<button
 			onclick={() => onSelect(option.value)}
 			class="h-8 w-8 rounded-full border-2 transition-transform hover:scale-110 {selected === option.value ? 'border-[var(--text)]' : 'border-[var(--border-subtle)]'}"
-			style="background-color: {getNoteColor(option.value, getIsDarkMode())}"
+			style="background-color: {getNoteChip(option.value, getIsDarkMode())}"
 			title={option.label}
 			data-testid="color-{option.value}"
 		></button>
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/colors.test.ts b/src/lib/utils/colors.test.ts
index f55757a..8d29e37 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/colors.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/colors.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
-import { getNoteColor, NOTE_COLORS, NOTE_COLORS_DARK } from '$lib/utils/colors.js';
+import {
+	getNoteColor,
+	getNoteChip,
+	NOTE_COLORS,
+	NOTE_COLORS_DARK,
+	NOTE_CHIPS_DARK
+} from '$lib/utils/colors.js';
+import type { NoteColor } from '$lib/types/index.js';
 
 describe('getNoteColor', () => {
 	it('returns light color when isDark is false', () => {
@@ -84,3 +91,38 @@ describe('dark note colours', () => {
 		}
 	});
 });
+
+describe('getNoteChip', () => {
+	it('returns the card colour in light mode, where pastels already are the cards', () => {
+		for (const color of Object.keys(NOTE_COLORS) as NoteColor[]) {
+			expect(getNoteChip(color, false)).toBe(getNoteColor(color, false));
+		}
+	});
+
+	it('returns a distinct vivid chip in dark mode, not the card surface', () => {
+		for (const color of Object.keys(NOTE_COLORS_DARK) as NoteColor[]) {
+			expect(getNoteChip(color, true)).not.toBe(getNoteColor(color, true));
+		}
+	});
+
+	it('falls back to default for an unknown colour', () => {
+		expect(getNoteChip('unknown' as any, true)).toBe(NOTE_CHIPS_DARK.default);
+	});
+
+	it('has matching keys with the colour maps', () => {
+		expect(Object.keys(NOTE_CHIPS_DARK).sort()).toEqual(Object.keys(NOTE_COLORS_DARK).sort());
+	});
+
+	it('keeps every pair of chips far enough apart to tell apart at 28px', () => {
+		// The regression this guards: at low chroma coral/peach/blossom and
+		// fog/storm collapse into each other.
+		const entries = Object.entries(NOTE_CHIPS_DARK);
+		for (let i = 0; i < entries.length; i++) {
+			for (let j = i + 1; j < entries.length; j++) {
+				const [[nameA, a], [nameB, b]] = [entries[i], entries[j]];
+				const distance = rgbDistance(a, b);
+				expect(distance, `${nameA} vs ${nameB}`).toBeGreaterThan(25);
+			}
+		}
+	});
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/colors.ts b/src/lib/utils/colors.ts
index f3aa947..ec062a4 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/colors.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/colors.ts
@@ -39,3 +39,29 @@ export const COLOR_OPTIONS = Object.entries(NOTE_COLORS).map(([value, { label }]
 	value: value as NoteColor,
 	label
 }));
+
+/**
+ * Picker swatches are labels, not surfaces. A 28px circle at card lightness
+ * reads as a grey dot — small patches lose apparent saturation — so the dark
+ * picker uses vivid mid-lightness chips that share the card's hue but not its
+ * lightness. Light mode needs no equivalent: there the pastels are the cards.
+ */
+export const NOTE_CHIPS_DARK: Record<NoteColor, string> = {
+	default: '#8d857c',
+	coral: '#d04f43',
+	peach: '#cd7c42',
+	sand: '#c7b138',
+	mint: '#7bbd4c',
+	sage: '#47b89d',
+	fog: '#609abe',
+	storm: '#547bc0',
+	dusk: '#a965bd',
+	blossom: '#c05d78',
+	clay: '#b5954a',
+	chalk: '#c3c3c8'
+};
+
+export function getNoteChip(color: NoteColor, isDark: boolean): string {
+	if (!isDark) return getNoteColor(color, false);
+	return NOTE_CHIPS_DARK[color] ?? NOTE_CHIPS_DARK.default;
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/dark-mode.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/dark-mode.spec.ts
index 254d537..2fd005a 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/dark-mode.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/dark-mode.spec.ts
@@ -84,4 +84,30 @@ test.describe.serial('Dark mode', () => {
 		// Dark default color is #21201f = rgb(33, 32, 31); NOT light default rgb(250, 245, 235)
 		expect(bg).not.toBe('rgb(250, 245, 235)');
 	});
+
+	test('Scenario: Colour picker swatches are identifiable in dark mode', async ({
+		authenticatedPage: page
+	}) => {
+		// Given dark theme is active
+		await page.goto('/settings/preferences');
+		await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
+		await page.getByTestId('pref-theme-dark').click();
+		await expect(page.locator('html')).toHaveAttribute('data-theme', 'dark');
+
+		// When the user opens the colour picker while editing a note
+		await page.goto('/');
+		await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
+		await page.getByTestId('new-note-btn').click();
+		await page.getByTestId('note-title-input').fill('Swatch Test');
+		await page.getByTestId('color-picker-toggle').click();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('color-picker')).toBeVisible();
+
+		// Then a swatch shows its vivid chip rather than the muted card surface
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('color-coral')).toHaveCSS(
+			'background-color',
+			'rgb(208, 79, 67)'
+		);
+
+		await page.getByTestId('close-editor-btn').click();
+	});
 });