diff --git a/HANDOFF.md b/HANDOFF.md
index ef3c55b..68bf2e2 100644
--- a/HANDOFF.md
+++ b/HANDOFF.md
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ P0~P5 직렬. P6~P9 P5 이후 병렬 가능.
 - **2026-05-03 P9 도그푸딩 후속 (p9-fb-20)** — `kebab ask` 의 CLI citation block. 답변 출력 후 `근거:` 절 — `[N] <full path>#<fragment>  (score=<s>)` 한 줄씩. `--show-citations` (default ON) / `--hide-citations` (pipe 시 답변 본문만) flag. `--json` 모드는 무영향 (citations 가 항상 wire payload 에 포함). spec p9-fb-20 의 \"TUI citation pane + jump\" 부분은 P9-3 의 기존 `render_citations_or_explain` 가 일부 cover — 추가 기능 (turn 별 fold + Enter/o jump + i inspect) 은 후속 task 로 미룸 (사용자 도그푸딩 priority 5위 의 핵심 = full path 가독성 = CLI block 으로 충족). spec: `tasks/p9/p9-fb-20-citation-surface.md`.
 - **2026-05-03 P9 도그푸딩 후속 (p9-fb-07)** — Markdown title fallback chain. `kebab-normalize::derive_title(frontmatter_title, &[Block], file_stem)` — 1) frontmatter title → 2) 첫 H1 → 3) 첫 H2 → 4) 첫 paragraph 80 chars → 5) 파일 stem (모든 단계 NFC 정규화, 빈 문자열 절대 반환 안 함, 마지막 sentinel `"untitled"`). `build_canonical_document` 가 lift 후 helper 호출. parser_version 상수 `pulldown-cmark-0.x` → `md-frontmatter-v2` bump — 기존 doc 은 `doc_id` 가 갱신되므로 다음 ingest 가 자동 재처리 (idempotent upsert, design §9 cascade). spec: `tasks/p9/p9-fb-07-md-title-fallback.md`.
 - **2026-05-03 P9 도그푸딩 후속 (p9-fb-09)** — TUI external editor return restore. Search `g` 키 (citation jump) 후 TUI 화면이 깨지는 버그 수정. `kebab-tui::editor::with_external_program(&mut TuiTerminal, Command)` helper 가 suspend (LeaveAlternateScreen + Show cursor + disable_raw_mode) → spawn → restore (enable_raw_mode + EnterAlternateScreen + Hide cursor + `terminal.clear()`) 시퀀스를 RAII guard 로 atomic 하게 묶음. `App.pending_editor: Option<EditorRequest>` + `App.force_redraw: bool` 추가 — 키 핸들러는 EditorRequest enqueue 만, 실제 spawn 은 run loop 가 `TuiTerminal` 핸들 들고 처리. 후속 task (p9-fb-20 의 citation jump 등) 가 같은 helper 위에 build. spec: `tasks/p9/p9-fb-09-tui-editor-restore.md`.
+- **2026-05-03 P9 도그푸딩 후속 (p9-fb-14)** — TUI color theme module. `kebab-tui::theme::{Theme, Role, Palette}` 신규 — 16 개 Role (BorderActive/Title/Path/ModeLexical/ModeVector/ModeHybrid/Selected/Hint/Heading/Warning/Error/Success/CitationMarker/Bullet/Body/BorderInactive) 을 dark + light 두 팔레트가 exhaustive match 로 매핑. 모든 Pane (library/search/ask/inspect/run/error_popup) 의 inline `Style::default().fg(Color::*)` 호출이 `theme.style(Role::X)` 로 격리됨. `Config.ui.theme: String` (default `"dark"`) 신규. `App.theme: Theme` 가 `App::new` 에서 `Theme::from_name(&config.ui.theme)` 로 build — 알 수 없는 값은 dark fallback (config 가 typo 로 죽지 않음). `T` 키 runtime toggle 은 mode machine (p9-fb-12) 미진행이라 skip — config 만으로 결정. p9-fb-11 (ask markdown render) 의 Theme 의존성 unblock. spec: `tasks/p9/p9-fb-14-tui-color-theme.md`.
 
 ## 다음 task 후보
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3e1476f..a6f3ab4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ flowchart TB
 
 ## Configuration
 
-- `~/.config/kebab/config.toml` — `kebab init` 가 XDG 경로에 생성. `[workspace] include`, `[storage]`, `[chunking]`, `[models.embedding]`, `[models.llm]`, `[image.ocr]`, `[image.caption]`, `[search]`, `[rag]` 절.
+- `~/.config/kebab/config.toml` — `kebab init` 가 XDG 경로에 생성. `[workspace] include`, `[storage]`, `[chunking]`, `[models.embedding]`, `[models.llm]`, `[image.ocr]`, `[image.caption]`, `[search]`, `[rag]`, `[ui]` 절. `[ui] theme = "dark" | "light"` 로 TUI 팔레트 선택 (default `"dark"`, 알 수 없는 값은 dark fallback).
 - `--config <path>` flag — 임시 워크스페이스 / 격리 테스트 시 사용. CLI / TUI 모두 honor.
 - `KEBAB_*` env — 일부 키 override (`KEBAB_RAG_SCORE_GATE`, `KEBAB_EVAL_GOLDEN`, `KEBAB_COMMIT_HASH` 등).
 - XDG layout: `~/.config/kebab/`, `~/.local/share/kebab/`, `~/.cache/kebab/`, `~/.local/state/kebab/`.
diff --git a/crates/kebab-config/src/lib.rs b/crates/kebab-config/src/lib.rs
index e70b953..56121a6 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// (they cost a model call per asset).
     #[serde(default = "ImageCfg::defaults")]
     pub image: ImageCfg,
+    /// p9-fb-14: TUI palette + role-style mapping. `#[serde(default)]`
+    /// so configs that predate this section still load (defaults to
+    /// `dark`).
+    #[serde(default = "UiCfg::defaults")]
+    pub ui: UiCfg,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -194,6 +199,27 @@ impl CaptionCfg {
     }
 }
 
+/// p9-fb-14: TUI-only configuration. Currently a single `theme`
+/// selector (`"dark"` / `"light"`); future fields (custom role
+/// overrides, mode-machine cursor shapes, …) extend the same
+/// section so the CLI doesn't grow a per-feature `[ui.*]` table.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct UiCfg {
+    /// Palette name. Recognized: `"dark"` (default), `"light"`.
+    /// Unknown values fall back to `"dark"` at construction time
+    /// — config never errors on a typo, the TUI just keeps the
+    /// default theme so the user has a working shell.
+    pub theme: String,
+}
+
+impl UiCfg {
+    pub fn defaults() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            theme: "dark".to_string(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl Config {
     /// Defaults per design §6.4.
     pub fn defaults() -> Self {
@@ -263,6 +289,7 @@ impl Config {
                 max_context_tokens: 8000,
             },
             image: ImageCfg::defaults(),
+            ui: UiCfg::defaults(),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/app.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/app.rs
index 43497fe..48c7eee 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/app.rs
@@ -240,6 +240,12 @@ pub const TERMINAL_LINE_HOLD_SECS: u64 = 3;
 /// add panes by populating their `Option<*State>` slot.
 pub struct App {
     pub config: Config,
+    /// p9-fb-14: resolved palette + role-style mapping. Built once
+    /// in `App::new` from `config.ui.theme` (`"dark"` / `"light"`,
+    /// fallback dark on unknown). Every pane reads its styles via
+    /// `app.theme.style(Role::X)` instead of inlining
+    /// `Style::default().fg(Color::*)`.
+    pub theme: crate::theme::Theme,
     pub focus: Pane,
     pub library: LibraryState,
     /// Populated by p9-2 (None until that crate links in).
@@ -295,8 +301,10 @@ impl App {
     /// run loop calls `library.refresh` on first frame so a slow
     /// `kebab-app::list_docs_with_config` does not block startup.
     pub fn new(config: Config) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
+        let theme = crate::theme::Theme::from_name(&config.ui.theme);
         Ok(Self {
             config,
+            theme,
             focus: Pane::Library,
             library: LibraryState::new(),
             search: None,
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/ask.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/ask.rs
index 60220bb..a365e30 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/ask.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/ask.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
 use kebab_core::{RefusalReason, SearchMode};
 use ratatui::Frame;
 use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect};
-use ratatui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
+use ratatui::style::Modifier;
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, Paragraph, Wrap};
 use std::sync::mpsc;
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ pub fn render_ask(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, state: &App) {
         ])
         .split(area);
 
-    render_input(f, layout[0], s);
-    render_answer(f, layout[1], s);
-    render_bottom(f, layout[2], s);
+    render_input(f, layout[0], s, &state.theme);
+    render_answer(f, layout[1], s, &state.theme);
+    render_bottom(f, layout[2], s, &state.theme);
 }
 
-fn render_input(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
+fn render_input(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let mode_badge = if s.explain { " explain" } else { "" };
     // Distinguish three async states for the operator:
     // - currently streaming (worker still emitting tokens)
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ fn render_input(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
         ""
     };
     let line = Line::from(vec![
-        Span::styled("? ", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
+        Span::styled("? ", theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Heading)),
         Span::raw(s.input.as_str()),
-        Span::styled(mode_badge, Style::default().fg(Color::Yellow)),
-        Span::styled(busy, Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM)),
+        Span::styled(mode_badge, theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Warning)),
+        Span::styled(busy, theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint)),
     ]);
     let block = Block::default()
         .title("ask (Enter=submit  e=explain  Ctrl-L=new conversation  Esc=back)")
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ fn render_input(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
     f.render_widget(Paragraph::new(line).block(block), area);
 }
 
-fn render_answer(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
+fn render_answer(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let title = if s.turns.is_empty() && !s.streaming {
         "transcript".to_string()
     } else {
@@ -88,14 +88,20 @@ fn render_answer(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
     // Completed turns first (chronological), then the in-flight
     // turn (if any) at the bottom. The most-recent completed
     // turn's grounded flag (from `last_answer`) styles its A line
-    // — yellow on refusal so the user keeps the P9-3 visual
-    // distinction even inside the transcript.
+    // via the theme's Warning role on refusal so the user keeps
+    // the P9-3 visual distinction even inside the transcript.
     let last_turn_grounded = s.last_answer.as_ref().map(|a| a.grounded);
     let last_turn_idx = s.turns.len().saturating_sub(1);
     let mut lines: Vec<Line> = Vec::new();
     for (idx, turn) in s.turns.iter().enumerate() {
-        let style_override = if idx == last_turn_idx {
-            last_turn_grounded.and_then(|g| if g { None } else { Some(Color::Yellow) })
+        let role_override = if idx == last_turn_idx {
+            last_turn_grounded.and_then(|g| {
+                if g {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(crate::theme::Role::Warning)
+                }
+            })
         } else {
             None
         };
@@ -105,7 +111,8 @@ fn render_answer(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
             &turn.question,
             &turn.answer,
             false,
-            style_override,
+            role_override,
+            theme,
         );
         lines.push(Line::raw(""));
     }
@@ -115,13 +122,13 @@ fn render_answer(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
         let mut a = s.partial.clone();
         a.push('▍');
         let idx = s.turns.len();
-        push_turn_lines(&mut lines, idx, q, &a, true, None);
+        push_turn_lines(&mut lines, idx, q, &a, true, None, theme);
     }
 
     if lines.is_empty() {
         let hint = Paragraph::new(Span::styled(
             "(type a question and press Enter. follow-ups inherit history. Ctrl-L clears the conversation.)",
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
         ))
         .wrap(Wrap { trim: false });
         f.render_widget(hint.block(block), area);
@@ -140,35 +147,34 @@ fn push_turn_lines(
     question: &str,
     answer: &str,
     streaming: bool,
-    answer_color_override: Option<Color>,
+    answer_role_override: Option<crate::theme::Role>,
+    theme: &crate::theme::Theme,
 ) {
     let q_label = format!("Q{}", idx + 1);
     let a_label = format!("A{}", idx + 1);
     out.push(Line::from(vec![
-        Span::styled(
-            q_label,
-            Style::default()
-                .fg(Color::Cyan)
-                .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
-        ),
+        // `Role::Heading` already includes BOLD in both palettes, so
+        // no need to `add_modifier(BOLD)` here — the redundancy would
+        // imply Heading lacks BOLD elsewhere.
+        Span::styled(q_label, theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Heading)),
         Span::raw(": "),
         Span::raw(question.to_string()),
     ]));
-    // p9-fb-16: refusal turn (caller passed Yellow) keeps the P9-3
-    // visual distinction inside the transcript. Streaming turn fades
-    // to dim gray. Default is plain.
-    let answer_style = if let Some(c) = answer_color_override {
-        Style::default().fg(c)
+    // p9-fb-16: refusal turn (caller passed Role::Warning) keeps the
+    // P9-3 visual distinction inside the transcript. Streaming turn
+    // fades to dim hint. Default is plain Body.
+    let answer_style = if let Some(role) = answer_role_override {
+        theme.style(role)
     } else if streaming {
-        Style::default().fg(Color::Gray)
+        theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint)
     } else {
-        Style::default()
+        theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Body)
     };
     out.push(Line::from(vec![
         Span::styled(
             a_label,
-            Style::default()
-                .fg(Color::Green)
+            theme
+                .style(crate::theme::Role::Success)
                 .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
         ),
         Span::raw(": "),
@@ -176,21 +182,21 @@ fn push_turn_lines(
     ]));
 }
 
-fn render_bottom(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
+fn render_bottom(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let split = Layout::default()
         .direction(Direction::Horizontal)
         .constraints([Constraint::Percentage(40), Constraint::Percentage(60)])
         .split(area);
-    render_status(f, split[0], s);
-    render_citations_or_explain(f, split[1], s);
+    render_status(f, split[0], s, theme);
+    render_citations_or_explain(f, split[1], s, theme);
 }
 
-fn render_status(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
+fn render_status(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let block = Block::default().title("status").borders(Borders::ALL);
     let lines: Vec<Line> = match &s.last_answer {
         None => vec![Line::from(Span::styled(
             "(no answer yet)",
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
         ))],
         Some(a) => {
             let grounded = if a.grounded { "✓" } else { "✗" };
@@ -220,17 +226,17 @@ fn render_status(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
     f.render_widget(Paragraph::new(lines).block(block), area);
 }
 
-fn render_citations_or_explain(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
+fn render_citations_or_explain(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let title = if s.explain { "explain (per-claim)" } else { "citations" };
     let block = Block::default().title(title).borders(Borders::ALL);
     let lines: Vec<Line> = match &s.last_answer {
         None => vec![Line::from(Span::styled(
             "(submit a question to see citations)",
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
         ))],
         Some(a) if a.citations.is_empty() => vec![Line::from(Span::styled(
             if a.grounded { "(no citations)" } else { "(가까운 후보 없음)" },
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
         ))],
         Some(a) => a
             .citations
@@ -240,7 +246,7 @@ fn render_citations_or_explain(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &AskState) {
                 Line::from(vec![
                     Span::styled(
                         format!("[{marker}] "),
-                        Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan),
+                        theme.style(crate::theme::Role::CitationMarker),
                     ),
                     Span::raw(c.citation.to_uri()),
                 ])
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/error_popup.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/error_popup.rs
index 9a89d36..67c9125 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/error_popup.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/error_popup.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 
 use ratatui::Frame;
 use ratatui::layout::Rect;
-use ratatui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
+use ratatui::style::Modifier;
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, Clear, Paragraph, Wrap};
 
+use crate::theme::{Role, Theme};
+
 /// Captured snapshot of an `anyhow::Error` for rendering. We do NOT
 /// store the `anyhow::Error` itself (it is `!Sync` in pre-1.0.99
 /// versions on some toolchains and would force lifetime gymnastics
@@ -38,16 +40,16 @@ impl ErrorOverlay {
 
 /// Render the popup centred in `area`. Caller is responsible for
 /// clearing the underlying region (`Clear` widget); we do that here.
-pub fn render_error_overlay(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, overlay: &ErrorOverlay) {
+/// `theme` is threaded so the overlay's red borders / dim hint use
+/// the same role-style mapping as every other pane (p9-fb-14).
+pub fn render_error_overlay(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, overlay: &ErrorOverlay, theme: &Theme) {
     let popup_area = centered_rect(area, 60, 50);
     f.render_widget(Clear, popup_area);
 
     let mut lines: Vec<Line> = Vec::with_capacity(overlay.chain.len() + 2);
     lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
         format!("{}: {}", overlay.title, overlay.chain.first().map_or("(unknown)", String::as_str)),
-        Style::default()
-            .fg(Color::Red)
-            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        theme.style(Role::Error).add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
     )));
     for cause in overlay.chain.iter().skip(1) {
         lines.push(Line::from(format!("  caused by: {cause}")));
@@ -55,13 +57,13 @@ pub fn render_error_overlay(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, overlay: &ErrorOverlay) {
     lines.push(Line::from(""));
     lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
         "press any key to dismiss",
-        Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+        theme.style(Role::Hint),
     )));
 
     let block = Block::default()
         .title("error")
         .borders(Borders::ALL)
-        .border_style(Style::default().fg(Color::Red));
+        .border_style(theme.style(Role::Error));
     let para = Paragraph::new(lines).block(block).wrap(Wrap { trim: false });
     f.render_widget(para, popup_area);
 }
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/inspect.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/inspect.rs
index 67376d6..6fe3b36 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/inspect.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/inspect.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent};
 use kebab_core::{Block, CanonicalDocument, Chunk};
 use ratatui::Frame;
 use ratatui::layout::Rect;
-use ratatui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
+use ratatui::style::Modifier;
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block as RBlock, Borders, Paragraph, Wrap};
 
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ pub fn render_inspect(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, state: &App) {
         return;
     }
     match (&s.target, &s.doc, &s.chunk) {
-        (Some(InspectTarget::Doc(_)), Some(doc), _) => render_doc(f, area, s, doc),
+        (Some(InspectTarget::Doc(_)), Some(doc), _) => render_doc(f, area, s, doc, &state.theme),
         (Some(InspectTarget::Chunk(_)), _, Some(chunk)) => {
-            render_chunk(f, area, s, chunk)
+            render_chunk(f, area, s, chunk, &state.theme)
         }
         _ => {
             let block = RBlock::default()
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ pub fn render_inspect(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, state: &App) {
             let hint = Paragraph::new(Span::styled(
                 "(no target — return to Library and press Enter on a doc, \
                  or to Search and press `i` on a hit)",
-                Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+                state.theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
             ))
             .wrap(Wrap { trim: false });
             f.render_widget(hint.block(block), area);
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ pub fn render_inspect(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, state: &App) {
     }
 }
 
-fn render_doc(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &InspectState, doc: &CanonicalDocument) {
-    let lines = build_doc_lines(s, doc);
+fn render_doc(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &InspectState, doc: &CanonicalDocument, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
+    let lines = build_doc_lines(s, doc, theme);
     let block = RBlock::default()
         .title(format!(
             "Inspect Doc — {}",
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ fn render_doc(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &InspectState, doc: &CanonicalDocume
     f.render_widget(para.block(block), area);
 }
 
-fn render_chunk(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &InspectState, chunk: &Chunk) {
-    let lines = build_chunk_lines(s, chunk);
+fn render_chunk(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &InspectState, chunk: &Chunk, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
+    let lines = build_chunk_lines(s, chunk, theme);
     let block = RBlock::default()
         .title(format!(
             "Inspect Chunk — {}",
@@ -100,31 +100,34 @@ fn render_chunk(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &InspectState, chunk: &Chunk) {
 pub(crate) fn build_doc_lines<'a>(
     s: &InspectState,
     doc: &'a CanonicalDocument,
+    theme: &crate::theme::Theme,
 ) -> Vec<Line<'a>> {
     let mut lines: Vec<Line> = Vec::new();
     // Header
-    lines.push(header_kv("title", &doc.title));
-    lines.push(header_kv("doc_path", &doc.workspace_path.0));
-    lines.push(header_kv("doc_id", &doc.doc_id.0));
-    lines.push(header_kv("lang", &doc.lang.0));
+    lines.push(header_kv("title", &doc.title, theme));
+    lines.push(header_kv("doc_path", &doc.workspace_path.0, theme));
+    lines.push(header_kv("doc_id", &doc.doc_id.0, theme));
+    lines.push(header_kv("lang", &doc.lang.0, theme));
     lines.push(header_kv(
         "source_type",
         &format!("{:?}", doc.metadata.source_type).to_lowercase(),
+        theme,
     ));
     lines.push(header_kv(
         "trust_level",
         &format!("{:?}", doc.metadata.trust_level).to_lowercase(),
+        theme,
     ));
-    lines.push(header_kv("parser_version", &doc.parser_version.0));
+    lines.push(header_kv("parser_version", &doc.parser_version.0, theme));
     lines.push(blank());
 
     // metadata
-    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_METADATA, s);
+    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_METADATA, s, theme);
     if !s.collapsed.contains(SECTION_METADATA) {
-        lines.push(kv("aliases", &format!("{:?}", doc.metadata.aliases)));
-        lines.push(kv("tags", &format!("{:?}", doc.metadata.tags)));
-        lines.push(kv("created_at", &fmt_dt(&doc.metadata.created_at)));
-        lines.push(kv("updated_at", &fmt_dt(&doc.metadata.updated_at)));
+        lines.push(kv("aliases", &format!("{:?}", doc.metadata.aliases), theme));
+        lines.push(kv("tags", &format!("{:?}", doc.metadata.tags), theme));
+        lines.push(kv("created_at", &fmt_dt(&doc.metadata.created_at), theme));
+        lines.push(kv("updated_at", &fmt_dt(&doc.metadata.updated_at), theme));
         // user metadata pretty-printed JSON
         if let Ok(pretty) =
             serde_json::to_string_pretty(&serde_json::Value::Object(
@@ -139,12 +142,12 @@ pub(crate) fn build_doc_lines<'a>(
     }
 
     // provenance
-    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_PROVENANCE, s);
+    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_PROVENANCE, s, theme);
     if !s.collapsed.contains(SECTION_PROVENANCE) {
         if doc.provenance.events.is_empty() {
             lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
                 "  (no events)",
-                Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+                theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
             )));
         } else {
             for ev in &doc.provenance.events {
@@ -171,6 +174,7 @@ pub(crate) fn build_doc_lines<'a>(
         SECTION_BLOCKS,
         s,
         Some(doc.blocks.len()),
+        theme,
     );
     if !s.collapsed.contains(SECTION_BLOCKS) {
         let preview_n = 16.min(doc.blocks.len());
@@ -183,7 +187,7 @@ pub(crate) fn build_doc_lines<'a>(
         if doc.blocks.len() > preview_n {
             lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
                 format!("  … +{} more", doc.blocks.len() - preview_n),
-                Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+                theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
             )));
         }
     }
@@ -193,11 +197,12 @@ pub(crate) fn build_doc_lines<'a>(
 pub(crate) fn build_chunk_lines<'a>(
     s: &InspectState,
     chunk: &'a Chunk,
+    theme: &crate::theme::Theme,
 ) -> Vec<Line<'a>> {
     let mut lines: Vec<Line> = Vec::new();
     // Header
-    lines.push(header_kv("chunk_id", &chunk.chunk_id.0));
-    lines.push(header_kv("doc_id", &chunk.doc_id.0));
+    lines.push(header_kv("chunk_id", &chunk.chunk_id.0, theme));
+    lines.push(header_kv("doc_id", &chunk.doc_id.0, theme));
     lines.push(header_kv(
         "heading_path",
         &if chunk.heading_path.is_empty() {
@@ -205,22 +210,24 @@ pub(crate) fn build_chunk_lines<'a>(
         } else {
             chunk.heading_path.join(" / ")
         },
+        theme,
     ));
-    lines.push(header_kv("chunker_version", &chunk.chunker_version.0));
-    lines.push(header_kv("policy_hash", &chunk.policy_hash));
+    lines.push(header_kv("chunker_version", &chunk.chunker_version.0, theme));
+    lines.push(header_kv("policy_hash", &chunk.policy_hash, theme));
     lines.push(header_kv(
         "token_estimate",
         &chunk.token_estimate.to_string(),
+        theme,
     ));
     lines.push(blank());
 
     // source spans
-    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_SPANS, s);
+    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_SPANS, s, theme);
     if !s.collapsed.contains(SECTION_SPANS) {
         if chunk.source_spans.is_empty() {
             lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
                 "  (no spans)",
-                Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+                theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
             )));
         } else {
             for span in &chunk.source_spans {
@@ -231,7 +238,7 @@ pub(crate) fn build_chunk_lines<'a>(
     }
 
     // text
-    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_TEXT, s);
+    push_section_header(&mut lines, SECTION_TEXT, s, theme);
     if !s.collapsed.contains(SECTION_TEXT) {
         for line in chunk.text.lines() {
             lines.push(Line::from(format!("  {line}")));
@@ -239,7 +246,7 @@ pub(crate) fn build_chunk_lines<'a>(
         if chunk.text.is_empty() {
             lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
                 "  (empty)",
-                Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+                theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
             )));
         }
         lines.push(blank());
@@ -252,11 +259,12 @@ pub(crate) fn build_chunk_lines<'a>(
         SECTION_EMBEDDINGS,
         s,
         Some(chunk.block_ids.len()),
+        theme,
     );
     if !s.collapsed.contains(SECTION_EMBEDDINGS) {
         lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
             "  (embedding records not loaded — out of v1 scope)",
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
         )));
         for bid in &chunk.block_ids {
             lines.push(Line::from(format!("    {}", bid.0)));
@@ -265,21 +273,21 @@ pub(crate) fn build_chunk_lines<'a>(
     lines
 }
 
-fn header_kv(k: &str, v: &str) -> Line<'static> {
+fn header_kv(k: &str, v: &str, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) -> Line<'static> {
     Line::from(vec![
         Span::styled(
             format!("{k:>16}: "),
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD).fg(Color::Cyan),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Heading),
         ),
         Span::raw(v.to_string()),
     ])
 }
 
-fn kv(k: &str, v: &str) -> Line<'static> {
+fn kv(k: &str, v: &str, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) -> Line<'static> {
     Line::from(vec![
         Span::styled(
             format!("  {k}: "),
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
         ),
         Span::raw(v.to_string()),
     ])
@@ -289,8 +297,13 @@ fn blank() -> Line<'static> {
     Line::from("")
 }
 
-fn push_section_header(lines: &mut Vec<Line<'static>>, name: &'static str, s: &InspectState) {
-    push_section_header_with_count(lines, name, s, None);
+fn push_section_header(
+    lines: &mut Vec<Line<'static>>,
+    name: &'static str,
+    s: &InspectState,
+    theme: &crate::theme::Theme,
+) {
+    push_section_header_with_count(lines, name, s, None, theme);
 }
 
 /// Section header + optional inline count. Inline-count form is used
@@ -301,6 +314,7 @@ fn push_section_header_with_count(
     name: &'static str,
     s: &InspectState,
     count: Option<usize>,
+    theme: &crate::theme::Theme,
 ) {
     let collapsed = s.collapsed.contains(name);
     let marker = if collapsed { "▸" } else { "▾" };
@@ -310,9 +324,9 @@ fn push_section_header_with_count(
     };
     lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
         title,
-        Style::default()
-            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD)
-            .fg(Color::Yellow),
+        theme
+            .style(crate::theme::Role::Warning)
+            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
     )));
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/lib.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/lib.rs
index f7c36bf..f49cea2 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/lib.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ mod library;
 mod run;
 mod search;
 mod terminal;
+mod theme;
 
+pub use theme::{Palette, Role, Theme};
 pub use app::{
     App, AskState, IngestState, InspectState, InspectTarget, KeyOutcome, LibraryState, Pane,
     SearchState, TERMINAL_LINE_HOLD_SECS,
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/library.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/library.rs
index ce08141..39b746a 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/library.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/library.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
 use kebab_core::{DocFilter, DocSummary, Lang};
 use ratatui::Frame;
 use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect};
-use ratatui::style::{Modifier, Style};
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph};
 use unicode_width::UnicodeWidthStr;
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ pub fn render_library(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, state: &App) {
         .split(area);
 
     if let Some(edit) = &state.library.inner.filter_edit {
-        render_filter_overlay(f, layout[0], edit);
+        render_filter_overlay(f, layout[0], edit, &state.theme);
     }
     render_doc_list(f, layout[1], state);
 }
@@ -124,7 +123,7 @@ fn filter_overlay_height(state: &App) -> u16 {
     }
 }
 
-fn render_filter_overlay(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, edit: &FilterEdit) {
+fn render_filter_overlay(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, edit: &FilterEdit, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let block = Block::default()
         .title("Filter (Tab=cycle field, Enter=apply, Esc=cancel)")
         .borders(Borders::ALL);
@@ -132,18 +131,23 @@ fn render_filter_overlay(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, edit: &FilterEdit) {
     f.render_widget(block, area);
 
     let lines = vec![
-        line_with_focus("tags_any (csv): ", &edit.tags_buf, edit.field == FilterField::Tags),
-        line_with_focus("lang:           ", &edit.lang_buf, edit.field == FilterField::Lang),
+        line_with_focus("tags_any (csv): ", &edit.tags_buf, edit.field == FilterField::Tags, theme),
+        line_with_focus("lang:           ", &edit.lang_buf, edit.field == FilterField::Lang, theme),
     ];
     let para = Paragraph::new(lines);
     f.render_widget(para, inner);
 }
 
-fn line_with_focus<'a>(label: &'a str, value: &'a str, focused: bool) -> Line<'a> {
+fn line_with_focus<'a>(
+    label: &'a str,
+    value: &'a str,
+    focused: bool,
+    theme: &crate::theme::Theme,
+) -> Line<'a> {
     let style = if focused {
-        Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::REVERSED)
+        theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Selected)
     } else {
-        Style::default()
+        theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Body)
     };
     Line::from(vec![Span::raw(label), Span::styled(value, style)])
 }
@@ -173,7 +177,7 @@ fn render_doc_list(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, state: &App) {
 
     let list = List::new(items)
         .block(block)
-        .highlight_style(Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::REVERSED))
+        .highlight_style(state.theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Selected))
         .highlight_symbol("> ");
 
     let mut list_state = inner.list_state.clone();
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/run.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/run.rs
index ab98466..1d1665f 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/run.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/run.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use crossterm::event::{self, Event, KeyEventKind};
 use ratatui::Frame;
 use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect};
-use ratatui::style::{Modifier, Style};
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, Paragraph};
 use std::time::Duration;
@@ -239,7 +238,7 @@ fn render_root(f: &mut Frame, app: &App) {
         render_footer(f, outer[2], app);
     }
     if let Some(err) = &app.error_overlay {
-        render_error_overlay(f, f.area(), err);
+        render_error_overlay(f, f.area(), err, &app.theme);
     }
 }
 
@@ -248,10 +247,16 @@ fn render_ingest_status(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &App) {
         return;
     };
     let line = crate::ingest_progress::status_line(state);
+    // p9-fb-14: `aborted` is a non-fatal-but-noteworthy state (Ctrl-C
+    // partial commit) — `Role::Warning` (yellow) is the right semantic
+    // signal, plus an explicit BOLD so the abort line still stands
+    // out from the live progress lines around it.
     let style = if state.aborted {
-        Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD)
+        app.theme
+            .style(crate::theme::Role::Warning)
+            .add_modifier(ratatui::style::Modifier::BOLD)
     } else {
-        Style::default()
+        app.theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Body)
     };
     f.render_widget(
         Paragraph::new(Line::from(Span::styled(line, style))),
@@ -268,10 +273,7 @@ fn render_header(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &App) {
         Pane::Jobs => "Jobs",
     };
     let line = Line::from(vec![
-        Span::styled(
-            "kebab",
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
-        ),
+        Span::styled("kebab", app.theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Title)),
         Span::raw(" / "),
         Span::raw(pane_label),
     ]);
@@ -294,7 +296,7 @@ fn render_footer(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &App) {
     };
     let line = Line::from(Span::styled(
         hints,
-        Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+        app.theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
     ));
     f.render_widget(
         Paragraph::new(line).block(Block::default().borders(Borders::TOP)),
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/search.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/search.rs
index 9eb8869..71092a4 100644
--- a/crates/kebab-tui/src/search.rs
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/search.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
 use kebab_core::{Citation, SearchHit, SearchMode, SearchQuery};
 use ratatui::Frame;
 use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect};
-use ratatui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph, Wrap};
 use std::path::Path;
@@ -60,18 +59,23 @@ pub fn render_search(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, state: &App) {
         ])
         .split(area);
 
-    render_input_bar(f, layout[0], s);
-    render_result_list(f, layout[1], s);
-    render_preview(f, layout[2], s);
+    render_input_bar(f, layout[0], s, &state.theme);
+    render_result_list(f, layout[1], s, &state.theme);
+    render_preview(f, layout[2], s, &state.theme);
 }
 
-fn render_input_bar(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState) {
+fn render_input_bar(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let mode_label = mode_label(s.mode);
+    let mode_role = match s.mode {
+        SearchMode::Lexical => crate::theme::Role::ModeLexical,
+        SearchMode::Vector => crate::theme::Role::ModeVector,
+        SearchMode::Hybrid => crate::theme::Role::ModeHybrid,
+    };
     let searching_hint = if s.searching { "  searching…" } else { "" };
     let line = Line::from(vec![
-        Span::styled(format!("[{mode_label}] "), Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
+        Span::styled(format!("[{mode_label}] "), theme.style(mode_role)),
         Span::raw(s.input.as_str()),
-        Span::styled(searching_hint, Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM)),
+        Span::styled(searching_hint, theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint)),
     ]);
     let block = Block::default()
         .title("query (Tab=mode  Enter=search  Esc=back)")
@@ -87,7 +91,7 @@ fn mode_label(m: SearchMode) -> &'static str {
     }
 }
 
-fn render_result_list(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState) {
+fn render_result_list(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let block = Block::default()
         .title(format!("results ({})", s.hits.len()))
         .borders(Borders::ALL);
@@ -100,11 +104,11 @@ fn render_result_list(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState) {
     let items: Vec<ListItem> = s
         .hits
         .iter()
-        .map(|h| ListItem::new(format_hit_lines(h)))
+        .map(|h| ListItem::new(format_hit_lines(h, theme)))
         .collect();
     let list = List::new(items)
         .block(block)
-        .highlight_style(Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::REVERSED))
+        .highlight_style(theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Selected))
         .highlight_symbol("> ");
     let mut list_state = ListState::default();
     list_state.select(Some(s.selected_hit.min(s.hits.len().saturating_sub(1))));
@@ -116,7 +120,7 @@ fn render_result_list(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState) {
 /// 2. `<heading_path joined by " / "> | section_label?`
 /// 3. snippet line 1
 /// 4. snippet line 2 (or trailing blank for layout symmetry)
-fn format_hit_lines(h: &SearchHit) -> Vec<Line<'static>> {
+fn format_hit_lines(h: &SearchHit, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) -> Vec<Line<'static>> {
     let header = format!(
         "{}. {:.4}  {}",
         h.rank,
@@ -138,17 +142,14 @@ fn format_hit_lines(h: &SearchHit) -> Vec<Line<'static>> {
     let s1 = snippet_lines.next().unwrap_or("").to_string();
     let s2 = snippet_lines.next().unwrap_or("").to_string();
     vec![
-        Line::from(Span::styled(
-            header,
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
-        )),
-        Line::from(Span::styled(path_line, Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray))),
+        Line::from(Span::styled(header, theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Title))),
+        Line::from(Span::styled(path_line, theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Path))),
         Line::from(format!("  {s1}")),
         Line::from(format!("  {s2}")),
     ]
 }
 
-fn render_preview(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState) {
+fn render_preview(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState, theme: &crate::theme::Theme) {
     let block = Block::default()
         .title("preview (g=open in $EDITOR)")
         .borders(Borders::ALL);
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ fn render_preview(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, s: &SearchState) {
         (Some(text), _) => Paragraph::new(text.as_str()).wrap(Wrap { trim: false }),
         (None, _) => Paragraph::new(Span::styled(
             "(loading preview… select a hit to fetch its chunk text)",
-            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+            theme.style(crate::theme::Role::Hint),
         )),
     };
     f.render_widget(body.block(block), area);
diff --git a/crates/kebab-tui/src/theme.rs b/crates/kebab-tui/src/theme.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec7cd74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/kebab-tui/src/theme.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+//! p9-fb-14: TUI palette + role-style mapping.
+//!
+//! Every pane (`library`, `search`, `ask`, `inspect`, `error_popup`,
+//! the `run::render_root` shell) routes its `ratatui::style::Style`
+//! through `Theme::style(role)` instead of inlining
+//! `Style::default().fg(...)`. Adding a new role here is the only
+//! place a color decision needs to land — accidental drift between
+//! panes (`Cyan` for one badge, `LightCyan` for another) becomes a
+//! single-file diff.
+//!
+//! ## Why role-based, not "style table"
+//!
+//! Earlier sketches keyed a hashmap by role at runtime. A `match`
+//! against an enum is faster (no allocation, no hashing), exhaustive
+//! at compile time (forgetting a role for `Theme::light` is a
+//! compile error if you `match` exhaustively on `Role` in the
+//! palette body — and we do), and lets `Theme::style` return
+//! `Style` by value without lifetimes.
+//!
+//! ## Accessibility
+//!
+//! Color is never the *only* signal — the score badge ships
+//! `[score=0.92]` text alongside its color, the mode badge ships
+//! `[Hybrid]` text, the refusal renders the literal `(refused)`
+//! prefix. The theme just amplifies signals that the text already
+//! carries.
+
+use ratatui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
+
+/// Role-style enumeration. Adding a variant requires updating both
+/// `dark_style` and `light_style` (the compiler enforces it via the
+/// exhaustive `match` in each palette).
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
+pub enum Role {
+    /// Active pane border (the focused one).
+    BorderActive,
+    /// Inactive pane border.
+    BorderInactive,
+    /// Document/section title (bold, accent color).
+    Title,
+    /// Secondary path / subpath (dim).
+    Path,
+    /// Lexical search-mode badge.
+    ModeLexical,
+    /// Vector search-mode badge.
+    ModeVector,
+    /// Hybrid search-mode badge.
+    ModeHybrid,
+    /// Selected row in any list (search hits, library docs, …).
+    Selected,
+    /// Dim hint / placeholder text (mode line subtext, "loading…").
+    Hint,
+    /// Section heading (bold + accent — Inspect uses this).
+    Heading,
+    /// Warning yellow — refusals, malformed-frontmatter notices.
+    Warning,
+    /// Error red — error overlays, "spawn failed" lines.
+    Error,
+    /// Success green — completed ingest, grounded answer.
+    Success,
+    /// Citation marker (`[1]`, `[2]`) and citation link text.
+    CitationMarker,
+    /// Bullet glyph in list rendering.
+    Bullet,
+    /// Default body text (no decoration). Returned as
+    /// `Style::default()` in both palettes — kept as a Role so
+    /// callers don't sprinkle `Style::default()` directly.
+    Body,
+}
+
+/// Palette identity. `Theme` carries this so panes can branch on
+/// "is dark" if they need a different glyph (rarely needed since
+/// roles already abstract the color), but in practice the
+/// `Theme::style` dispatcher is the only consumer.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum Palette {
+    Dark,
+    Light,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct Theme {
+    palette: Palette,
+}
+
+impl Theme {
+    /// Default dark palette — intended for the typical terminal
+    /// (white-on-black scheme). Distinct from `Theme::light`.
+    pub fn dark() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            palette: Palette::Dark,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Light palette — intended for users running a light-background
+    /// terminal scheme. Hues stay the same; brightness shifts so the
+    /// foreground stays readable on white.
+    pub fn light() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            palette: Palette::Light,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Resolve a config string ("dark" / "light", case-insensitive)
+    /// to a `Theme`. Unknown values fall back to dark — never errors.
+    /// p9-fb-14 spec: "config never errors on a typo, the TUI just
+    /// keeps the default theme so the user has a working shell."
+    pub fn from_name(s: &str) -> Self {
+        match s.trim().to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
+            "light" => Self::light(),
+            _ => Self::dark(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The underlying palette identity. Mostly a debugging aid.
+    pub fn palette(&self) -> Palette {
+        self.palette
+    }
+
+    /// Resolve a `Role` to a `Style`. Both palettes implement every
+    /// role exhaustively (compile error if a variant is added but
+    /// the palette body forgets it).
+    pub fn style(&self, role: Role) -> Style {
+        match self.palette {
+            Palette::Dark => dark_style(role),
+            Palette::Light => light_style(role),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// `Theme::default() == Theme::dark()` — pinned by
+/// `default_palette_is_dark` test. If the default ever flips, both
+/// the test and downstream callers (e.g. integration smokes that
+/// rely on dark contrast) need a coordinated update.
+impl Default for Theme {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::dark()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Dark palette — high-contrast on black. The exhaustive match
+/// guarantees adding a `Role` variant here forces the same in
+/// `light_style`.
+fn dark_style(role: Role) -> Style {
+    match role {
+        Role::BorderActive => Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan),
+        Role::BorderInactive => Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray),
+        Role::Title => Style::default()
+            .fg(Color::White)
+            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        Role::Path => Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray),
+        Role::ModeLexical => Style::default().fg(Color::Yellow),
+        Role::ModeVector => Style::default().fg(Color::Magenta),
+        Role::ModeHybrid => Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan),
+        Role::Selected => Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::REVERSED),
+        Role::Hint => Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+        Role::Heading => Style::default()
+            .fg(Color::Cyan)
+            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        Role::Warning => Style::default().fg(Color::Yellow),
+        Role::Error => Style::default().fg(Color::Red),
+        Role::Success => Style::default().fg(Color::Green),
+        Role::CitationMarker => Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan),
+        Role::Bullet => Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray),
+        Role::Body => Style::default(),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Light palette — high-contrast on white. Same hues as dark
+/// (so user mental-models transfer) but with darker variants where
+/// `Color::*` differs in 16-color terminals (e.g., `LightYellow`
+/// would wash out on white, so `Yellow` stays).
+fn light_style(role: Role) -> Style {
+    match role {
+        Role::BorderActive => Style::default().fg(Color::Blue),
+        Role::BorderInactive => Style::default().fg(Color::Gray),
+        Role::Title => Style::default()
+            .fg(Color::Black)
+            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        Role::Path => Style::default().fg(Color::Gray),
+        Role::ModeLexical => Style::default().fg(Color::Yellow),
+        Role::ModeVector => Style::default().fg(Color::Magenta),
+        Role::ModeHybrid => Style::default().fg(Color::Blue),
+        Role::Selected => Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::REVERSED),
+        Role::Hint => Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::DIM),
+        Role::Heading => Style::default()
+            .fg(Color::Blue)
+            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        Role::Warning => Style::default().fg(Color::Yellow),
+        Role::Error => Style::default().fg(Color::Red),
+        Role::Success => Style::default().fg(Color::Green),
+        Role::CitationMarker => Style::default().fg(Color::Blue),
+        Role::Bullet => Style::default().fg(Color::Gray),
+        Role::Body => Style::default(),
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    /// Both palettes resolve every `Role` to a `Style` (no panic /
+    /// no `unreachable!()` branch). The exhaustive match in
+    /// `dark_style` / `light_style` makes this true at compile
+    /// time, but we exercise it at runtime so a regression to
+    /// `match _ => unreachable!()` would surface in test instead
+    /// of in production.
+    #[test]
+    fn every_role_resolves_in_dark_and_light() {
+        let roles = [
+            Role::BorderActive,
+            Role::BorderInactive,
+            Role::Title,
+            Role::Path,
+            Role::ModeLexical,
+            Role::ModeVector,
+            Role::ModeHybrid,
+            Role::Selected,
+            Role::Hint,
+            Role::Heading,
+            Role::Warning,
+            Role::Error,
+            Role::Success,
+            Role::CitationMarker,
+            Role::Bullet,
+            Role::Body,
+        ];
+        for r in roles {
+            let _ = Theme::dark().style(r);
+            let _ = Theme::light().style(r);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// `Theme::from_name` recognizes exactly two palette names; any
+    /// other input falls back to dark. Pinned per spec: "config
+    /// never errors on a typo".
+    #[test]
+    fn from_name_recognizes_dark_light_and_falls_back() {
+        assert_eq!(Theme::from_name("dark").palette(), Palette::Dark);
+        assert_eq!(Theme::from_name("DARK").palette(), Palette::Dark);
+        assert_eq!(Theme::from_name(" dark ").palette(), Palette::Dark);
+        assert_eq!(Theme::from_name("light").palette(), Palette::Light);
+        assert_eq!(Theme::from_name("LIGHT").palette(), Palette::Light);
+        assert_eq!(Theme::from_name("solarized").palette(), Palette::Dark);
+        assert_eq!(Theme::from_name("").palette(), Palette::Dark);
+    }
+
+    /// `Theme::default()` is dark — pinned so the default doesn't
+    /// silently flip in a future refactor.
+    #[test]
+    fn default_palette_is_dark() {
+        assert_eq!(Theme::default().palette(), Palette::Dark);
+    }
+
+    /// Critical roles emit `Style` with at least one decoration —
+    /// catches regressions where someone replaces a styled palette
+    /// branch with a bare `Style::default()`. `Body` is excluded
+    /// (it intentionally returns the default).
+    #[test]
+    fn primary_roles_carry_decoration_in_dark() {
+        let theme = Theme::dark();
+        for r in [
+            Role::Title,
+            Role::Selected,
+            Role::Heading,
+            Role::Error,
+            Role::Warning,
+            Role::Success,
+        ] {
+            let style = theme.style(r);
+            let has_color = style.fg.is_some() || style.bg.is_some();
+            let has_modifier = !style.add_modifier.is_empty();
+            assert!(
+                has_color || has_modifier,
+                "role {:?} resolves to bare Style::default() in dark palette",
+                r
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/SMOKE.md b/docs/SMOKE.md
index 53c7c71..2f9c177 100644
--- a/docs/SMOKE.md
+++ b/docs/SMOKE.md
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ prompt_template_version = "rag-v1"
 score_gate = 0.05                    # RRF 정규화 후 [0, 1] 범위라 default 그대로 OK
 explain_default = false
 max_context_tokens = 6000
+
+[ui]
+theme = "dark"                       # p9-fb-14 — TUI palette ("dark" / "light", default "dark")
 ```
 
 `KEBAB_*` 환경변수로 override 가능 (`KEBAB_MODELS_LLM_MODEL=gemma4:26b kebab …` 등). 자세한 키 목록은 `crates/kebab-config/src/lib.rs` 의 `apply_env` 매치 암.
diff --git a/tasks/p9/p9-fb-14-tui-color-theme.md b/tasks/p9/p9-fb-14-tui-color-theme.md
index d4f4237..2ef1064 100644
--- a/tasks/p9/p9-fb-14-tui-color-theme.md
+++ b/tasks/p9/p9-fb-14-tui-color-theme.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ phase: P9
 component: kebab-tui
 task_id: p9-fb-14
 title: "TUI color theme module (role-based + dark/light toggle)"
-status: planned
+status: in_progress
 depends_on: []
 unblocks: [p9-fb-11]
 contract_source: ../../docs/superpowers/specs/2026-04-27-kebab-final-form-design.md