diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ActiveFilterChips.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ActiveFilterChips.tsx
index 625f4235..a6429473 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ActiveFilterChips.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ActiveFilterChips.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export default function ActiveFilterChips({
           onClick={f.remove}
           title={t("feed.chips.remove", { name: f.label })}
           aria-label={t("feed.chips.remove", { name: f.label })}
-          className="group inline-flex items-center gap-1 pl-2.5 pr-1.5 py-1 rounded-full border border-accent/40 bg-accent/10 text-accent text-xs hover:border-accent hover:bg-accent/20 transition"
+          className="chip group pl-2.5 pr-1.5 py-1 text-xs hover:border-accent hover:bg-accent/20 transition"
         >
           <span className="max-w-56 truncate">{f.label}</span>
           <X className="w-3 h-3 shrink-0 opacity-60 group-hover:opacity-100" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChannelPicker.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChannelPicker.tsx
index e2fd5225..e09f037b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChannelPicker.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChannelPicker.tsx
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export default function ChannelPicker({
               key={id}
               onClick={() => toggle(id)}
               title={t("sidebar.channelRemove", { name: nameOf(id) })}
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 max-w-full pl-2.5 pr-1.5 py-1 rounded-full bg-accent text-accent-fg text-xs shadow-xs hover:opacity-90 transition"
+              className="chip-solid inline-flex items-center gap-1 max-w-full pl-2.5 pr-1.5 py-1 rounded-full text-xs shadow-xs hover:opacity-90 transition"
             >
               <span className="truncate">{nameOf(id)}</span>
               <X className="w-3 h-3 shrink-0" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChannelTags.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChannelTags.tsx
index ea6fa675..703b1990 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChannelTags.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChannelTags.tsx
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ interface TagChipProps {
 }
 
 function TagChip({ tag, onClick, title }: TagChipProps) {
-  const cls =
-    "shrink-0 text-3xs px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-accent text-accent-fg border border-accent max-w-36 truncate";
+  const cls = "chip-solid shrink-0 text-3xs px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full border max-w-36 truncate";
   return onClick ? (
     <button
       type="button"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
index d15b889e..5a2a3fc0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
@@ -667,11 +667,7 @@ export default function Channels() {
                         setTagFilter((f) => (active ? f.filter((x) => x !== tg.id) : [...f, tg.id]))
                       }
                       aria-pressed={active}
-                      className={`text-xs px-2 py-1 rounded-full border transition ${
-                        active
-                          ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg border-accent"
-                          : "bg-card border-border text-muted hover:text-fg hover:border-accent"
-                      }`}
+                      className="pill text-xs px-2 py-1 rounded-full border"
                     >
                       {tg.name}
                     </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
index c5dd0c26..5d49bcf6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
@@ -557,11 +557,7 @@ export default function Feed({
             data-testid={`feed-show-${id}`}
             onClick={() => setFilters({ ...filters, show: id })}
             aria-pressed={filters.show === id}
-            className={`text-xs px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full border transition ${
-              filters.show === id
-                ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg border-accent"
-                : "border-border text-muted hover:text-fg hover:border-accent"
-            }`}
+            className="pill text-xs px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full border"
           >
             {t("sidebar.show." + id)}
           </button>
@@ -575,11 +571,7 @@ export default function Feed({
               data-testid={`feed-content-${c.key}`}
               onClick={() => setFilters({ ...filters, [c.key]: !on })}
               aria-pressed={on}
-              className={`text-xs px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full border transition ${
-                on
-                  ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg border-accent"
-                  : "border-border text-muted hover:text-fg hover:border-accent"
-              }`}
+              className="pill text-xs px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full border"
             >
               {t(c.label)}
             </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx
index 92b54547..0f9642b7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx
@@ -193,9 +193,7 @@ export default function NavSidebar({
         onClick={() => setPage(p)}
         title={slim ? label : undefined}
         aria-current={active ? "page" : undefined}
-        className={`${rowBase} ${slim ? "justify-center px-0" : ""} relative ${
-          active ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg" : "text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card"
-        }`}
+        className={`${rowBase} ${slim ? "justify-center px-0" : ""} relative is-current`}
       >
         <span className="relative shrink-0">
           <Icon className="w-4.5 h-4.5" />
@@ -308,11 +306,7 @@ export default function NavSidebar({
             onClick={() => setPage("settings")}
             title={slim ? t("header.account.settings") : undefined}
             aria-current={page === "settings" ? "page" : undefined}
-            className={`${rowBase} ${slim ? "justify-center px-0" : ""} ${
-              page === "settings"
-                ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg"
-                : "text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card"
-            }`}
+            className={`${rowBase} ${slim ? "justify-center px-0" : ""} is-current`}
           >
             <Settings className="w-4.5 h-4.5 shrink-0" />
             {!slim && <span className="truncate">{t("header.account.settings")}</span>}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
index d0daae57..60ca7dac 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
@@ -505,9 +505,8 @@ export default function PlexPlaylistView({
       title={label}
       aria-label={label}
       aria-pressed={layout === v}
-      className={`rounded-lg p-2 text-sm transition ${
-        layout === v ? "bg-accent/15 text-accent" : "glass-card glass-hover text-muted"
-      }`}
+      data-soft="true"
+      className={`pill rounded-lg p-2 text-sm ${layout === v ? "" : "glass-card glass-hover text-muted"}`}
     >
       {icon}
     </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx
index c332e729..4e882374 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx
@@ -59,9 +59,7 @@ function MatchToggle({
             key={m}
             onClick={() => onChange(m)}
             aria-pressed={mode === m}
-            className={`rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 transition ${
-              mode === m ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg" : "text-muted hover:text-fg"
-            }`}
+            className="pill rounded-full px-2 py-0.5"
           >
             {t(`plex.filter.match.${m}`)}
           </button>
@@ -518,7 +516,7 @@ function Chip({
 
 function RemovableChip({ label, onRemove }: { label: string; onRemove: () => void }) {
   return (
-    <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-accent/15 text-accent px-2 py-1 text-xs">
+    <span className="chip px-2 py-1 text-xs">
       <span className="truncate max-w-36">{label}</span>
       <button onClick={onRemove} className="hover:opacity-70" aria-label="remove">
         <X className="w-3 h-3" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SettingsPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SettingsPanel.tsx
index 3c29718b..8b88677c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SettingsPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SettingsPanel.tsx
@@ -69,10 +69,9 @@ export default function SettingsPanel() {
                   key={tabItem.id}
                   data-testid={`settings-tab-${tabItem.id}`}
                   onClick={() => setTab(tabItem.id)}
-                  className={`flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm text-left transition ${
-                    active
-                      ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg font-medium shadow-md shadow-accent/20"
-                      : "text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card/60"
+                  aria-pressed={active}
+                  className={`pill flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm text-left ${
+                    active ? "font-medium shadow-md shadow-accent/20" : "hover:bg-card/60"
                   }`}
                 >
                   <tabItem.icon className="w-4 h-4 shrink-0" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
index ef84b4a5..ae0a8f97 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -281,11 +281,7 @@ export default function Sidebar({
                     key={m}
                     onClick={() => setFilters({ ...filters, tagMode: m })}
                     aria-pressed={filters.tagMode === m}
-                    className={`px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full transition ${
-                      filters.tagMode === m
-                        ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg"
-                        : "text-muted hover:text-fg"
-                    }`}
+                    className="pill px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full"
                   >
                     {m === "or" ? t("sidebar.any") : t("sidebar.all")}
                   </button>
@@ -392,9 +388,7 @@ export default function Sidebar({
             onClick={() => setFilters({ ...filters, scope: s })}
             title={t("header.scope." + s + "Tip")}
             aria-pressed={filters.scope === s}
-            className={`flex-1 inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-1 rounded-full transition ${
-              filters.scope === s ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg" : "text-muted hover:text-fg"
-            }`}
+            className="pill flex-1 inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-1 rounded-full"
           >
             {s === "my" ? <User className="w-3.5 h-3.5" /> : <Library className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />}
             <span>{t("header.scope." + s)}</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Tabs.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Tabs.tsx
index fbf25b84..3154827b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Tabs.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Tabs.tsx
@@ -31,10 +31,9 @@ export default function Tabs({
           <button
             key={tb.id}
             onClick={() => onChange(tb.id)}
-            className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-sm transition ${
-              on
-                ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg font-medium shadow-md shadow-accent/20"
-                : "text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card/60"
+            aria-pressed={on}
+            className={`pill inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-sm ${
+              on ? "font-medium shadow-md shadow-accent/20" : "hover:bg-card/60"
             }`}
           >
             {tb.label}
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index c19ab2cf..2b7aa179 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -418,6 +418,70 @@ body {
     outline: 2px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 60%, transparent);
     outline-offset: -2px;
   }
+
+  /* ===== R10 S4 · Selection-paint recipes =====
+     The ~14 hand-rolled "this is the selected / current / active one" idioms all painted the SAME
+     bg-accent fill via an inline ternary (`sel ? "bg-accent text-accent-fg border-accent" : "…"`),
+     which drifted over time. These recipes OWN that paint, keyed on the semantic ARIA the control
+     already carries — the JSX just toggles `aria-pressed` (a segment/toggle) or `aria-current` (the
+     single current item) and the CSS paints, so one control's selected look can never diverge from
+     the next's. Geometry (padding / radius / border-width / font) stays a per-site utility since it
+     legitimately varies. NO focus-visible here on purpose: the `@layer base` rule above already rings
+     every button/a/[role]; re-adding it would duplicate that (an R9 review finding). Because these sit
+     in @layer components, a site's own utility still wins — so a MIGRATED site must DROP its bg/text/
+     border-color utilities (else a utility-layer `bg-*` beats the recipe's pressed fill). Add
+     data-soft="true" for the subtle tint some surfaces use instead of the solid fill. */
+  .pill,
+  .is-current {
+    color: var(--muted);
+    border-color: var(--border); /* inert unless the site also adds a border-width utility */
+    transition:
+      color 0.15s ease,
+      background-color 0.15s ease,
+      border-color 0.15s ease;
+  }
+  .pill:hover,
+  .is-current:hover {
+    color: var(--fg);
+  }
+  .pill:hover {
+    border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 55%, transparent);
+  }
+  .is-current:hover {
+    background-color: var(--card);
+  }
+  /* selected / current — SOLID accent fill (the dominant idiom) */
+  .pill[aria-pressed="true"],
+  .is-current[aria-current] {
+    background-color: var(--accent);
+    color: var(--accent-fg);
+    border-color: var(--accent);
+  }
+  /* selected — SOFT tint variant (the plex layout toggle keeps a glass-card resting look, so its
+     "on" state is a subtle accent tint rather than the solid fill). */
+  .pill[aria-pressed="true"][data-soft="true"] {
+    background-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 14%, transparent);
+    color: var(--accent);
+    border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 40%, transparent);
+  }
+
+  /* .chip — an applied tag / filter token (rounded, tinted). The tint is the resting look (a filter
+     is "on" whenever the chip exists); removable variants add their own × button as a child.
+     .chip-solid = the strong-fill token (an applied tag colour, a picked channel). */
+  .chip {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.25rem;
+    border-radius: 9999px;
+    border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 40%, transparent);
+    background-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 10%, transparent);
+    color: var(--accent);
+  }
+  .chip-solid {
+    background-color: var(--accent);
+    color: var(--accent-fg);
+    border-color: var(--accent);
+  }
 }
 .glass-hover:hover {
   border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 55%, transparent);