diff --git a/e2e/dashboard-widgets.spec.js b/e2e/dashboard-widgets.spec.js
index 8612d2e3..7ba431bc 100644
--- a/e2e/dashboard-widgets.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/dashboard-widgets.spec.js
@@ -179,6 +179,27 @@ test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
       body: "data: {}\n\n",
     });
   });
+
+  await page.route("**/api/user/dashboard-layout**", async (route) => {
+    if (route.request().method() === "GET") {
+      await route.fulfill({
+        contentType: "application/json",
+        body: JSON.stringify({ layout: null }),
+      });
+    } else {
+      await route.fulfill({
+        contentType: "application/json",
+        body: JSON.stringify({ ok: true }),
+      });
+    }
+  });
+
+  await page.route("**/api/daily-note**", async (route) => {
+    await route.fulfill({
+      contentType: "application/json",
+      body: JSON.stringify({ note: null }),
+    });
+  });
 });
 test("dashboard widgets render with mocked metrics", async ({ page }) => {
   await page.goto("/dashboard", { waitUntil: "load" });
@@ -329,7 +350,7 @@ function mockMetricResponse(url) {
     };
   }
   if (url.includes("/api/streak/freeze")) {
-    return { freezes: [] };
+    return { hasFreeze: false, freezeDate: null };
   }
   if (url.includes("/api/integrations/jira")) {
     return null;
diff --git a/e2e/notifications.spec.js b/e2e/notifications.spec.js
index be4320a0..a92717b4 100644
--- a/e2e/notifications.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/notifications.spec.js
@@ -153,6 +153,10 @@ test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
     });
   });
 
+  await page.route("**/api/notifications**", async (route) => {
+    await route.fulfill({ contentType: "application/json", body: JSON.stringify({ notifications: [], unreadCount: 0 }) });
+  });
+
   await page.route("**/api/user/github-accounts", async (route) => {
     await route.fulfill({
       contentType: "application/json",
@@ -255,6 +259,10 @@ test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
     });
   }
 
+  await page.route("**/api/streak/freeze**", async (route) => {
+    await route.fulfill({ contentType: "application/json", body: JSON.stringify({ hasFreeze: false, freezeDate: null }) });
+  });
+
   await page.route("**/api/stream**", async (route) => {
     await route.fulfill({
       status: 200,
@@ -262,6 +270,18 @@ test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
       body: "data: {}\n\n",
     });
   });
+
+  await page.route("**/api/user/dashboard-layout**", async (route) => {
+    if (route.request().method() === "GET") {
+      await route.fulfill({ contentType: "application/json", body: JSON.stringify({ layout: null }) });
+    } else {
+      await route.fulfill({ contentType: "application/json", body: JSON.stringify({ ok: true }) });
+    }
+  });
+
+  await page.route("**/api/daily-note**", async (route) => {
+    await route.fulfill({ contentType: "application/json", body: JSON.stringify({ note: null }) });
+  });
 });
 
 test("notification bell opens and closes drawer", async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/page.tsx b/src/app/dashboard/page.tsx
index 3c7a6a7d..3ee7eec7 100644
--- a/src/app/dashboard/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/page.tsx
@@ -21,19 +21,19 @@ export default async function DashboardPage() {
         <DashboardHeader />
 
         {/* Quick actions */}
-        <div className="mt-8 mb-4 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-center justify-between gap-4">
+        <div className="mt-10 mb-6 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start sm:items-center justify-between gap-4">
           {/* Left side actions */}
           <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 w-full sm:w-auto">
             <Link
               href="/wrapped"
-              className="inline-flex w-full sm:w-auto justify-center items-center gap-2 rounded-xl border border-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--accent)]/10 px-5 py-2.5 text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--accent)] shadow-sm shadow-[var(--accent)]/20 transition-all hover:bg-[var(--accent)]/20 hover:scale-[1.02]"
+              className="inline-flex w-full sm:w-auto justify-center items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--accent)]/10 px-5 py-2.5 text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--accent)] shadow-sm shadow-[var(--accent)]/20 transition-all hover:bg-[var(--accent)]/20 hover:shadow-md hover:scale-[1.02] active:scale-95"
             >
               Year in Code
             </Link>
 
             <Link
               href="/dashboard/settings"
-              className="inline-flex w-full sm:w-auto justify-center items-center gap-2 rounded-xl border border-white/10 bg-white/5 px-5 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium transition-all hover:bg-white/10 hover:scale-[1.02]"
+              className="inline-flex w-full sm:w-auto justify-center items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/60 px-5 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium transition-all hover:bg-[var(--card)]/80 hover:shadow-sm hover:scale-[1.02] active:scale-95"
             >
               Settings
             </Link>
@@ -44,32 +44,35 @@ export default async function DashboardPage() {
           </div>
         </div>
 
-        <div className="space-y-4 mb-8">
+        {/* Info Banners */}
+        <div className="space-y-3 mb-8">
           <ThrottleBanner />
           <StreakAtRiskBanner />
         </div>
 
-        <section className="mt-8">
+        {/* Today Focus Section */}
+        <section className="mt-10 mb-10">
           <TodayFocusHero userName={session.user?.name ?? null} />
         </section>
 
-        <section className="mt-14">
-          <div className="relative overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-[var(--border)] bg-gradient-to-r from-violet-950/20 via-indigo-950/10 to-transparent p-6 shadow-lg flex flex-col md:flex-row justify-between items-center gap-6">
-            <div className="space-y-2 max-w-xl">
+        {/* Featured Section */}
+        <section className="mt-10 mb-12">
+          <div className="relative overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-[var(--border)] bg-gradient-to-r from-violet-950/20 via-indigo-950/10 to-transparent p-8 shadow-lg hover:shadow-xl transition-shadow flex flex-col md:flex-row justify-between items-start md:items-center gap-8">
+            <div className="space-y-3 max-w-xl flex-1">
               <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                <span className="text-[10px] uppercase font-bold text-violet-400 tracking-wider px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-violet-500/10 border border-violet-500/20">
+                <span className="text-[10px] uppercase font-bold text-violet-400 tracking-wider px-2.5 py-1 rounded bg-violet-500/10 border border-violet-500/20">
                   New Feature
                 </span>
-                <span className="text-xs text-[var(--muted-foreground)]">
+                <span className="text-xs text-[var(--muted-foreground)] font-medium">
                   AI Resume Generator
                 </span>
               </div>
 
-              <h3 className="text-lg font-bold text-[var(--foreground)]">
+              <h3 className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--foreground)] leading-tight">
                 Generate an ATS-Friendly CV Backed by Your Real Code
               </h3>
 
-              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--muted-foreground)] leading-relaxed">
+              <p className="text-sm text-[var(--muted-foreground)] leading-relaxed">
                 Analyze your GitHub contributions, merged PRs, and lines of code
                 changed to automatically generate professional bullet points for
                 your target roles.
@@ -78,10 +81,10 @@ export default async function DashboardPage() {
 
             <Link
               href="/dashboard/career-intelligence"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg bg-gradient-to-r from-violet-600 to-indigo-600 px-5 py-2.5 text-xs font-bold text-white shadow-md shadow-indigo-500/20 hover:scale-[1.03] transition-all whitespace-nowrap"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg bg-gradient-to-r from-violet-600 to-indigo-600 px-6 py-3 text-sm font-bold text-white shadow-md shadow-indigo-500/20 hover:shadow-lg hover:scale-[1.03] transition-all whitespace-nowrap active:scale-95"
             >
               Build Resume
-              <ChevronRight className="h-4 w-4" />
+              <ChevronRight className="h-5 w-5" />
             </Link>
           </div>
         </section>
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/CustomizableDashboard.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/CustomizableDashboard.tsx
index 95353860..01fd4003 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/CustomizableDashboard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/CustomizableDashboard.tsx
@@ -204,17 +204,17 @@ const SECTION_ANCHOR_IDS: Record<DashboardSectionId, string> = {
 };
 
 const SECTION_ACCENT_CLASSES: Record<DashboardSectionId, string> = {
-  overview: "bg-[var(--accent)] shadow-[0_0_15px_var(--accent)]",
-  activity: "bg-emerald-500 shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(16,185,129,0.5)]",
-  analytics: "bg-blue-500 shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(59,130,246,0.5)]",
-  goals: "bg-purple-500 shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(168,85,247,0.5)]",
+  overview: "h-1 bg-gradient-to-r from-[var(--accent)] to-[var(--accent)]/60 rounded-full shadow-md",
+  activity: "h-1 bg-gradient-to-r from-emerald-500 to-emerald-500/60 rounded-full shadow-md",
+  analytics: "h-1 bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-500 to-blue-500/60 rounded-full shadow-md",
+  goals: "h-1 bg-gradient-to-r from-purple-500 to-purple-500/60 rounded-full shadow-md",
 };
 
 const SECTION_GRID_CLASSES: Record<DashboardSectionId, string> = {
-  overview: "grid grid-cols-1 xl:grid-cols-2 gap-6 w-full",
-  activity: "grid grid-cols-1 xl:grid-cols-3 gap-6 w-full",
-  analytics: "grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2 gap-6 w-full",
-  goals: "grid grid-cols-1 xl:grid-cols-3 gap-6 w-full",
+  overview: "grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-2 gap-6 w-full",
+  activity: "grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6 w-full",
+  analytics: "grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-3 gap-6 w-full",
+  goals: "grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6 w-full",
 };
 
 const WIDGET_SPAN_CLASSES: Partial<Record<DashboardWidgetId, string>> = {
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ export default function CustomizableDashboard() {
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className="mt-14">
+    <div className="mt-10 px-0.5">
       <DashboardLayoutToolbar
         isEditing={isEditing}
         hiddenWidgets={layout.hidden}
@@ -611,24 +611,32 @@ export default function CustomizableDashboard() {
             <section
               key={sectionId}
               id={SECTION_ANCHOR_IDS[sectionId]}
-              className={`space-y-6 scroll-mt-28 ${
-                sectionId === "goals" ? "mb-12" : "mb-14"
+              className={`scroll-mt-28 ${
+                sectionId === "goals" ? "mb-16" : "mb-14"
               }`}
             >
-              <div className="flex items-center gap-3 border-b border-white/10 pb-4">
+              <div className="space-y-2 mb-6">
                 <div
-                  className={`h-8 w-1.5 rounded-full ${SECTION_ACCENT_CLASSES[sectionId]}`}
+                  className={`w-12 ${SECTION_ACCENT_CLASSES[sectionId]}`}
                 />
-                <h2 className="text-2xl font-bold tracking-tight">
-                  {DASHBOARD_SECTION_LABELS[sectionId]}
-                </h2>
+                <div>
+                  <h2 className="text-3xl font-bold tracking-tight text-[var(--foreground)]">
+                    {DASHBOARD_SECTION_LABELS[sectionId]}
+                  </h2>
+                  <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-[var(--muted-foreground)] font-medium">
+                    {sectionId === "overview" && "Quick summary of your development profile"}
+                    {sectionId === "activity" && "Your coding patterns and contributions"}
+                    {sectionId === "analytics" && "In-depth analysis of your repositories and code"}
+                    {sectionId === "goals" && "Track progress, milestones, and insights"}
+                  </p>
+                </div>
               </div>
 
               <SortableContext
                 items={sectionWidgets}
                 strategy={rectSortingStrategy}
               >
-                <div className={SECTION_GRID_CLASSES[sectionId]}>
+                <div className={`${SECTION_GRID_CLASSES[sectionId]} auto-rows-max`}>
                   {sectionWidgets.map((widgetId) => (
                     <SortableDashboardWidget
                       key={widgetId}
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/DashboardLayoutToolbar.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/DashboardLayoutToolbar.tsx
index e43b50ce..a15465f8 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/DashboardLayoutToolbar.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/DashboardLayoutToolbar.tsx
@@ -22,38 +22,39 @@ export default function DashboardLayoutToolbar({
   onShowWidget,
 }: DashboardLayoutToolbarProps) {
   return (
-    <div className="mb-6 rounded-xl border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/80 p-4 shadow-sm backdrop-blur">
-      <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 md:flex-row md:items-center md:justify-between">
-        <div>
-          <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--foreground)]">
-            Dashboard Layout
+    <div className="mb-8 rounded-xl border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/50 backdrop-blur-sm p-6 shadow-sm hover:shadow-md transition-shadow duration-300">
+      <div className="flex flex-col gap-4 md:flex-row md:items-center md:justify-between">
+        <div className="space-y-1">
+          <h2 className="text-base font-semibold text-[var(--foreground)] flex items-center gap-2">
+            <SlidersHorizontal className="h-5 w-5 text-[var(--accent)]" aria-hidden="true" />
+            Customize Your Dashboard
           </h2>
-          <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-[var(--muted-foreground)]">
-            Reorder widgets, hide unused cards, and reset the dashboard anytime.
+          <p className="text-sm text-[var(--muted-foreground)] leading-relaxed">
+            Reorder widgets by dragging, hide cards you don&apos;t need, and reset to default anytime.
           </p>
         </div>
 
-        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 self-start md:self-auto">
           {isEditing ? (
             <button
               type="button"
               onClick={onReset}
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--control)] px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-[var(--foreground)] transition hover:opacity-90 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)]"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)] px-4 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium text-[var(--foreground)] transition-all hover:bg-[var(--card)]/80 hover:shadow-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)] active:scale-95"
             >
               <RotateCcw className="h-4 w-4" aria-hidden="true" />
-              Reset
+              Reset Layout
             </button>
           ) : null}
 
           <button
             type="button"
             onClick={() => onEditingChange(!isEditing)}
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--accent)]/10 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--accent)] transition hover:bg-[var(--accent)]/20 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)]"
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--accent)]/10 px-4 py-2.5 text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--accent)] transition-all hover:bg-[var(--accent)]/20 hover:shadow-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)] active:scale-95"
           >
             {isEditing ? (
               <>
                 <Check className="h-4 w-4" aria-hidden="true" />
-                Done
+                Done Editing
               </>
             ) : (
               <>
@@ -66,19 +67,21 @@ export default function DashboardLayoutToolbar({
       </div>
 
       {isEditing ? (
-        <div className="mt-4 border-t border-[var(--border)] pt-4">
-          <h3 className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-[var(--muted-foreground)]">
-            Hidden widgets
+        <div className="mt-6 border-t border-[var(--border)] pt-6 space-y-3">
+          <h3 className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--muted-foreground)] flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Eye className="h-3.5 w-3.5" aria-hidden="true" />
+            Hidden Widgets ({hiddenWidgets.length})
           </h3>
 
           {hiddenWidgets.length > 0 ? (
-            <div className="mt-3 flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
               {hiddenWidgets.map((widgetId) => (
                 <button
                   key={widgetId}
                   type="button"
                   onClick={() => onShowWidget(widgetId)}
-                  className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--control)] px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-[var(--foreground)] transition hover:opacity-90 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)]"
+                  className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/70 px-3 py-2 text-xs font-medium text-[var(--foreground)] transition-all hover:bg-[var(--accent)]/20 hover:border-[var(--accent)]/50 hover:shadow-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)] active:scale-95"
+                  title={`Click to show ${DASHBOARD_WIDGET_LABELS[widgetId]}`}
                 >
                   <Eye className="h-3.5 w-3.5" aria-hidden="true" />
                   Show {DASHBOARD_WIDGET_LABELS[widgetId]}
@@ -86,8 +89,8 @@ export default function DashboardLayoutToolbar({
               ))}
             </div>
           ) : (
-            <p className="mt-2 text-xs text-[var(--muted-foreground)]">
-              No widgets are hidden.
+            <p className="text-xs text-[var(--muted-foreground)] bg-[var(--card)]/30 rounded-lg px-3 py-2 italic">
+              ✓ All widgets are visible. No hidden widgets to restore.
             </p>
           )}
         </div>
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/SortableDashboardWidget.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/SortableDashboardWidget.tsx
index 8f4acb31..56bb74e4 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/SortableDashboardWidget.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/SortableDashboardWidget.tsx
@@ -46,16 +46,16 @@ export default function SortableDashboardWidget({
       ref={setNodeRef}
       style={style}
       className={`relative min-w-0 ${className} ${
-        isDragging ? "opacity-70" : ""
-      }`}
+        isDragging ? "opacity-60 scale-95" : ""
+      } transition-all duration-150`}
     >
       {isEditing ? (
-        <div className="absolute right-3 top-3 z-20 flex items-center gap-2">
+        <div className="absolute right-2 top-2 z-20 flex items-center gap-1.5">
           <button
             type="button"
             aria-label={`Drag widget: ${title}`}
-            title={`Drag ${title}`}
-            className="touch-none rounded-lg border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/95 p-2 text-[var(--muted-foreground)] shadow-sm backdrop-blur transition hover:text-[var(--foreground)] focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)]"
+            title={`Drag to reorder ${title}`}
+            className="touch-none rounded-lg border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/95 p-2 text-[var(--muted-foreground)] shadow-sm backdrop-blur transition-all hover:text-[var(--foreground)] hover:shadow-md hover:border-[var(--accent)]/50 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)] cursor-grab active:cursor-grabbing"
             {...attributes}
             {...listeners}
           >
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export default function SortableDashboardWidget({
             aria-label={`Hide widget: ${title}`}
             title={`Hide ${title}`}
             onClick={() => onHide(id)}
-            className="rounded-lg border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/95 p-2 text-[var(--muted-foreground)] shadow-sm backdrop-blur transition hover:text-red-400 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)]"
+            className="rounded-lg border border-[var(--border)] bg-[var(--card)]/95 p-2 text-[var(--muted-foreground)] shadow-sm backdrop-blur transition-all hover:text-red-500 hover:shadow-md hover:border-red-500/50 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--accent)]"
           >
             <EyeOff className="h-4 w-4" aria-hidden="true" />
           </button>
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ export default function SortableDashboardWidget({
       <div
         className={
           isEditing
-            ? "rounded-xl outline outline-1 outline-dashed outline-[var(--accent)]/60 outline-offset-4 transition"
-            : undefined
+            ? "rounded-xl outline outline-2 outline-dashed outline-[var(--accent)]/40 outline-offset-2 transition-all"
+            : "rounded-xl hover:shadow-lg transition-shadow duration-200"
         }
       >
         {children}