diff --git a/src/app/admin/theme/page.tsx b/src/app/admin/theme/page.tsx
index e0febe18..4d9f73b0 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/theme/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/admin/theme/page.tsx
@@ -223,41 +223,41 @@ const ADMIN_FIELDS: {
 }[] = [
 	{
 		key: "admin_canvas",
-		label: "Page background",
+		label: "Page background (dark)",
 		def: "#0f172a",
-		desc: "Main admin page background",
+		desc: "Dark-mode admin canvas. Light mode follows the public light palette.",
 	},
 	{
 		key: "admin_surface",
-		label: "Card / panel",
+		label: "Card / panel (dark)",
 		def: "#1e293b",
-		desc: "Admin cards, tables, and panel backgrounds",
+		desc: "Dark-mode cards, tables, and panels",
 	},
 	{
 		key: "admin_text",
-		label: "Body text",
+		label: "Body text (dark)",
 		def: "#f1f5f9",
-		desc: "Main admin text — must contrast with canvas/surface",
+		desc: "Dark-mode text — must contrast with canvas/surface",
 		bgKey: "admin_canvas",
 	},
 	{
 		key: "admin_text_muted",
-		label: "Muted text",
+		label: "Muted text (dark)",
 		def: "#94a3b8",
-		desc: "Secondary labels, hints, descriptions",
+		desc: "Dark-mode secondary labels and hints",
 		bgKey: "admin_canvas",
 	},
 	{
 		key: "admin_border",
-		label: "Border",
+		label: "Border (dark)",
 		def: "#334155",
-		desc: "Table borders, dividers, input outlines",
+		desc: "Dark-mode table borders, dividers, input outlines",
 	},
 	{
 		key: "admin_sidebar_bg",
-		label: "Sidebar",
+		label: "Sidebar (dark)",
 		def: "#0f172a",
-		desc: "Left navigation sidebar background",
+		desc: "Dark-mode left navigation background",
 	},
 ];
 
diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index a6e98b12..5a8cd151 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ html.dark textarea {
 }
 html.dark .admin-page table,
 html.dark .admin-card {
-	border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
+	border-color: var(--admin-border);
 }
 html.dark .currency,
 html.dark .article-img {
@@ -262,6 +262,14 @@ html.dark .site-bg {
 	background-blend-mode: overlay;
 }
 
+/* Admin must not inherit the public wallpaper — solid HK canvas only. */
+body.site-bg:has([data-admin]),
+html.dark body.site-bg:has([data-admin]) {
+	background: var(--admin-canvas);
+	background-image: none;
+	background-blend-mode: normal;
+}
+
 
 .article-body {
 	line-height: 1.7;
@@ -1156,8 +1164,59 @@ body:has([data-admin]) {
 	--color-surface-text-readable: var(--admin-text);
 	--color-dropdown: var(--admin-surface);
 	--color-dropdown-text-readable: var(--admin-text);
+	--input-border-color: var(--admin-border);
+	--input-focus-color: var(--admin-accent);
+	--muted: var(--admin-text-muted);
+	--border-subtle: color-mix(in srgb, var(--admin-text-muted) 22%, transparent);
 	color: var(--admin-text);
 	background-color: var(--admin-canvas);
+	font-family: var(--font-family);
+}
+
+/* Admin forms / boxes follow admin tokens in both light and dark. */
+body:has([data-admin]) input:not([type="checkbox"]):not([type="radio"]):not(
+		[type="range"]
+	):not([type="file"]):not([type="color"]),
+body:has([data-admin]) select,
+body:has([data-admin]) textarea {
+	background-color: var(--admin-surface-elevated);
+	color: var(--admin-text);
+	border-color: var(--admin-border);
+	caret-color: var(--admin-text);
+}
+body:has([data-admin]) input::placeholder,
+body:has([data-admin]) textarea::placeholder {
+	color: var(--admin-text-muted);
+	opacity: 0.85;
+}
+body:has([data-admin]) .muted,
+body:has([data-admin]) .admin-empty,
+body:has([data-admin]) .text-muted-foreground {
+	color: var(--admin-text-muted);
+}
+body:has([data-admin]) .admin-card,
+body:has([data-admin]) .admin-page table {
+	background: var(--admin-surface);
+	color: var(--admin-text);
+	border-color: var(--admin-border);
+}
+body:has([data-admin]) .btn-outline {
+	color: var(--admin-text);
+	border-color: var(--admin-border);
+	background: transparent;
+}
+body:has([data-admin]) .btn-outline:hover {
+	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--admin-accent) 12%, transparent);
+	color: var(--admin-text);
+}
+/* Override public html.dark input hardcodes inside admin. */
+html.dark body:has([data-admin]) input:not([type="checkbox"]):not(
+		[type="radio"]
+	):not([type="range"]):not([type="file"]):not([type="color"]),
+html.dark body:has([data-admin]) select,
+html.dark body:has([data-admin]) textarea {
+	background: var(--admin-surface-elevated);
+	color: var(--admin-text);
 }
 
 /* ── Details/summary open states for nav ──────────────────── */
diff --git a/src/components/language-switcher.tsx b/src/components/language-switcher.tsx
index a728385d..a1f551c4 100644
--- a/src/components/language-switcher.tsx
+++ b/src/components/language-switcher.tsx
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export function LanguageSwitcher({
 				aria-expanded={open}
 				className={
 					isAdmin
-						? "flex items-center gap-1.5 h-9 rounded-xl border border-[var(--admin-border)] px-2 text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-wide text-[var(--admin-sidebar-text-readable)] hover:bg-[var(--admin-accent)]/15 hover:text-[var(--admin-accent)] transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[var(--admin-accent)] disabled:opacity-60"
+						? "flex items-center gap-1.5 h-9 rounded-xl border border-[var(--admin-border)] bg-[var(--admin-surface-elevated)] px-2 text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-wide text-[var(--admin-text)] hover:bg-[var(--admin-accent)]/15 hover:text-[var(--admin-accent)] transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[var(--admin-accent)] disabled:opacity-60"
 						: "nav-item flex items-center gap-1.5 bg-transparent text-[13px] border-none cursor-pointer px-1"
 				}
 			>
diff --git a/src/components/theme-switcher.tsx b/src/components/theme-switcher.tsx
index 7d335ae7..2a1cb123 100644
--- a/src/components/theme-switcher.tsx
+++ b/src/components/theme-switcher.tsx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export function ThemeSwitcher({
 				aria-label={label}
 				title={title}
 				suppressHydrationWarning
-				className="flex-none grid place-items-center w-9 h-9 rounded-xl border border-[var(--admin-border)] text-[var(--admin-sidebar-text-readable)] hover:bg-[var(--admin-accent)]/15 hover:text-[var(--admin-accent)] transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[var(--admin-accent)]"
+				className="flex-none grid place-items-center w-9 h-9 rounded-xl border border-[var(--admin-border)] bg-[var(--admin-surface-elevated)] text-[var(--admin-text)] hover:bg-[var(--admin-accent)]/15 hover:text-[var(--admin-accent)] transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[var(--admin-accent)]"
 				style={{ visibility: ready ? "visible" : "hidden" }}
 			>
 				{dark ? <Sun size={16} /> : <Moon size={16} />}
diff --git a/src/lib/theme-contrast.test.ts b/src/lib/theme-contrast.test.ts
index 62fdc481..ed8e3ee6 100644
--- a/src/lib/theme-contrast.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/theme-contrast.test.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,48 @@ describe("deriveAdminPalette", () => {
 		expect(admin.surface).not.toBe("#00ff00");
 	});
 
+	it("in light mode mirrors readable public surfaces", () => {
+		const admin = deriveAdminPalette(
+			{
+				color_background: "#f8fafc",
+				color_surface: "#ffffff",
+				color_dropdown: "#f1f5f9",
+				color_text: "#0f172a",
+				color_text_muted: "#64748b",
+				color_primary: "#f59e0b",
+				color_navbar: "#ffffff",
+				color_navbar_text: "#1e293b",
+			},
+			{
+				canvas: "#0b0f19",
+				surface: "#151b27",
+				text: "#f8fafc",
+			},
+			"light",
+		);
+		expect(admin.canvas).toBe("#f8fafc");
+		expect(admin.surface).toBe("#ffffff");
+		expect(contrastRatio(admin.text, admin.canvas)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4.5);
+		expect(contrastRatio(admin.sidebarText, admin.sidebar)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
+			4.5,
+		);
+	});
+
+	it("ignores dark admin overrides while in light mode", () => {
+		const admin = deriveAdminPalette(
+			{
+				color_background: "#ffffff",
+				color_surface: "#ffffff",
+				color_text: "#0f172a",
+				color_primary: "#f59e0b",
+			},
+			{ canvas: "#0b0f19", text: "#f8fafc" },
+			"light",
+		);
+		expect(admin.canvas).toBe("#ffffff");
+		expect(admin.text.toLowerCase()).not.toBe("#f8fafc");
+	});
+
 	it("repairs default light text when admin canvas is forced light", () => {
 		const admin = deriveAdminPalette(
 			{ color_primary: "#f59e0b" },
diff --git a/src/lib/theme-contrast.ts b/src/lib/theme-contrast.ts
index 0878c207..930afc3d 100644
--- a/src/lib/theme-contrast.ts
+++ b/src/lib/theme-contrast.ts
@@ -30,9 +30,31 @@ export interface AdminPalette {
 export function deriveAdminPalette(
 	colors: PublicThemeColors,
 	overrides?: Partial<AdminPalette>,
+	mode: "light" | "dark" = "dark",
 ): AdminPalette {
 	const accent = overrides?.accent ?? colors.color_primary ?? "#f59e0b";
-	const defaults: AdminPalette = {
+
+	const lightDefaults: AdminPalette = {
+		canvas: colors.color_background ?? "#f8fafc",
+		surface: colors.color_surface ?? "#ffffff",
+		surfaceElevated: colors.color_dropdown ?? "#f1f5f9",
+		text: colors.color_text ?? "#0f172a",
+		muted: colors.color_text_muted ?? "#64748b",
+		border: "#e2e8f0",
+		accent,
+		accentText: accent,
+		accentForeground: "#ffffff",
+		success: colors.color_success ?? "#16a34a",
+		warning: colors.color_warning ?? "#eab308",
+		error: colors.color_error ?? "#ef4444",
+		info: colors.color_info ?? "#0ea5e9",
+		sidebar: colors.color_navbar ?? colors.color_surface ?? "#ffffff",
+		sidebarText: colors.color_navbar_text ?? colors.color_text ?? "#0f172a",
+		overlay: "rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.45)",
+		focusRing: accent,
+	};
+
+	const darkDefaults: AdminPalette = {
 		canvas: "#0b0f19",
 		surface: "#151b27",
 		surfaceElevated: "#1e2635",
@@ -52,11 +74,18 @@ export function deriveAdminPalette(
 		focusRing: accent,
 	};
 
+	const defaults = mode === "light" ? lightDefaults : darkDefaults;
+
+	// Staff admin_* overrides are the dark-HK palette — apply only in dark mode
+	// so light mode stays readable and tracks the public light theme.
 	const merged: AdminPalette = {
 		...defaults,
-		...overrides,
+		...(mode === "dark" ? overrides : {}),
 		accent,
-		overlay: overrides?.overlay ?? defaults.overlay,
+		overlay:
+			mode === "dark"
+				? (overrides?.overlay ?? defaults.overlay)
+				: defaults.overlay,
 		focusRing: accent,
 	};
 
diff --git a/src/lib/theme-css.ts b/src/lib/theme-css.ts
index 223c85b9..32a730c6 100644
--- a/src/lib/theme-css.ts
+++ b/src/lib/theme-css.ts
@@ -74,8 +74,13 @@ export function themePaletteCss(
 	palette: ThemePalette,
 	adminOverrides?: Partial<AdminPalette>,
 ): string {
+	const mode: "light" | "dark" = selector.includes("dark") ? "dark" : "light";
 	const semantic = derivePublicForegrounds(palette);
-	const admin = deriveAdminPalette(palette, adminOverrides);
+	const admin = deriveAdminPalette(
+		palette,
+		mode === "dark" ? adminOverrides : undefined,
+		mode,
+	);
 	const declarations = Object.entries(CSS_VARIABLES).map(
 		([key, cssName]) => `--${cssName}:${palette[key as keyof ThemePalette]};`,
 	);