diff --git a/qt/BUILD.bazel b/qt/BUILD.bazel
index be49bc6a6..3c1db25f5 100644
--- a/qt/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/qt/BUILD.bazel
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ py_binary(
 )
 
 py_binary(
-    name = "extract_sass_colors",
+    name = "extract_sass_vars",
     srcs = [
-        "tools/extract_sass_colors.py",
+        "tools/extract_sass_vars.py",
     ],
     imports = ["."],
     visibility = [":__subpackages__"],
diff --git a/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel b/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel
index 9248b51af..65fba5a32 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel
@@ -11,14 +11,15 @@ genrule(
 )
 
 genrule(
-    name = "extract_sass_colors",
+    name = "extract_sass_vars",
     srcs = [
+        "//sass:_colors.scss",
         "//sass:_vars.scss",
     ],
-    outs = ["colors.py"],
-    cmd = "$(location //qt:extract_sass_colors) $< $@",
+    outs = ["colors.py", "props.py"],
+    cmd = "$(location //qt:extract_sass_vars) $(SRCS) $(OUTS)",
     tools = [
-        "//qt:extract_sass_colors",
+        "//qt:extract_sass_vars",
     ],
 )
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/editor.py b/qt/aqt/editor.py
index c1049a9ad..d70acb870 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/editor.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/editor.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ class Editor:
             context=self,
             default_css=False,
         )
-        self.web._fix_editor_background_color_and_show()
+        self.web.show()
 
         lefttopbtns: list[str] = []
         gui_hooks.editor_did_init_left_buttons(lefttopbtns, self)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/theme.py b/qt/aqt/theme.py
index 6a943e042..f10eea944 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/theme.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/theme.py
@@ -251,6 +251,9 @@ QTabWidget {{ background-color: {}; }}
 
         if not self.night_mode:
             app.setStyle(QStyleFactory.create(self._default_style))  # type: ignore
+            self.default_palette.setColor(
+                QPalette.ColorRole.Window, self.qcolor(colors.WINDOW_BG)
+            )
             app.setPalette(self.default_palette)
             return
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/webview.py b/qt/aqt/webview.py
index f68b58926..11d2eaf66 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/webview.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/webview.py
@@ -233,9 +233,7 @@ class AnkiWebView(QWebEngineView):
         self.set_title(title)
         self._page = AnkiWebPage(self._onBridgeCmd)
         # reduce flicker
-        self._page.setBackgroundColor(
-            self.get_window_bg_color(theme_manager.night_mode)
-        )
+        self._page.setBackgroundColor(QColor(theme_manager.color(colors.WINDOW_BG)))
 
         # in new code, use .set_bridge_command() instead of setting this directly
         self.onBridgeCmd: Callable[[str], Any] = self.defaultOnBridgeCmd
@@ -404,15 +402,6 @@ class AnkiWebView(QWebEngineView):
         else:
             return 3
 
-    def get_window_bg_color(self, night_mode: bool) -> QColor:
-        if night_mode:
-            return QColor(colors.WINDOW_BG[1])
-        elif is_mac:
-            # standard palette does not return correct window color on macOS
-            return QColor("#ececec")
-        else:
-            return theme_manager.default_palette.color(QPalette.ColorRole.Window)
-
     def standard_css(self) -> str:
         palette = theme_manager.default_palette
         color_hl = palette.color(QPalette.ColorRole.Highlight).name()
@@ -459,15 +448,12 @@ div[contenteditable="true"]:focus {{
 
         zoom = self.app_zoom_factor()
 
-        window_bg_day = self.get_window_bg_color(False).name()
-        window_bg_night = self.get_window_bg_color(True).name()
-
         return f"""
 body {{ zoom: {zoom}; background-color: var(--window-bg); }}
 html {{ {font} }}
 {button_style}
-:root {{ --window-bg: {window_bg_day} }}
-:root[class*=night-mode] {{ --window-bg: {window_bg_night} }}
+:root {{ --window-bg: {colors.WINDOW_BG[0]} }}
+:root[class*=night-mode] {{ --window-bg: {colors.WINDOW_BG[1]} }}
 """
 
     def stdHtml(
@@ -712,7 +698,9 @@ html {{ {font} }}
     def on_theme_did_change(self) -> None:
         # avoid flashes if page reloaded
         self._page.setBackgroundColor(
-            self.get_window_bg_color(theme_manager.night_mode)
+            QColor(colors.WINDOW_BG[1])
+            if theme_manager.night_mode
+            else QColor(colors.WINDOW_BG[0])
         )
         # update night-mode class, and legacy nightMode/night-mode body classes
         self.eval(
@@ -732,30 +720,3 @@ html {{ {font} }}
 }})();
 """
         )
-
-    def _fix_editor_background_color_and_show(self) -> None:
-        # The editor does not use our standard CSS, which takes care of matching the background
-        # colour of the webview to the window we're showing it in. This causes a difference in
-        # shades on Windows/Linux in day mode, that we need to work around. This is a temporary
-        # fix before the 2.1.50 release; with more time there may be a better way to do this.
-
-        if theme_manager.night_mode:
-            # The styling changes are not required for night mode, and hiding+showing the
-            # webview causes a flash of black.
-            return
-
-        self.hide()
-
-        window_bg_day = self.get_window_bg_color(False).name()
-        css = f":root {{ --window-bg: {window_bg_day} }}"
-        self.evalWithCallback(
-            f"""
-(function(){{
-    const style = document.createElement('style');
-    style.innerHTML = `{css}`;
-    document.head.appendChild(style);
-}})();
-""",
-            # avoids FOUC
-            lambda _: self.show(),
-        )
diff --git a/qt/tools/extract_sass_colors.py b/qt/tools/extract_sass_colors.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 219fd6a26..000000000
--- a/qt/tools/extract_sass_colors.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-# Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
-# License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
-
-import json
-import re
-import sys
-
-input_scss = sys.argv[1]
-output_py = sys.argv[2]
-
-colors = {}
-
-for line in open(input_scss):
-    line = line.strip()
-    if not line:
-        continue
-    m = re.match(r"--(.+): (.+);$", line)
-    if not m:
-        if (
-            line != "}"
-            and not ":root" in line
-            and "Copyright" not in line
-            and "License" not in line
-            and "color-scheme" not in line
-        ):
-            print("failed to match", line)
-        continue
-
-    var = m.group(1)
-    val = m.group(2)
-
-    colors.setdefault(var, []).append(val)
-
-with open(output_py, "w") as buf:
-    buf.write(
-        """\
-# Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
-# License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
-"""
-    )
-    buf.write("# this file is auto-generated from _vars.scss\n")
-    for color, (day, night) in colors.items():
-        color = color.replace("-", "_").upper()
-        buf.write(f'{color} = ("{day}", "{night}")\n')
diff --git a/qt/tools/extract_sass_vars.py b/qt/tools/extract_sass_vars.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d1dc72a41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qt/tools/extract_sass_vars.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+# License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+import json
+import re
+import sys
+
+# bazel genrule "srcs"
+colors_scss = sys.argv[1]
+vars_scss = sys.argv[2]
+
+# bazel genrule "outs"
+colors_py = sys.argv[3]
+props_py = sys.argv[4]
+
+palette = {}
+colors = {}
+props = {}
+
+color = ""
+
+
+for line in open(colors_scss):
+    line = line.strip()
+    if not line:
+        continue
+
+    if m := re.match(r"^([a-z]+): \($", line):
+        color = m.group(1)
+        palette[color] = {}
+
+    elif m := re.match(r"(\d): (.+),$", line):
+        palette[color][m.group(1)] = m.group(2)
+
+
+# TODO: recursive extraction of arbitrarily nested Sass maps?
+reached_colors = False
+
+for line in open(vars_scss):
+    line = line.strip()
+    if not line:
+        continue
+
+    if line == "themes: (":
+        reached_colors = True
+        continue
+
+    if reached_colors:
+        line = re.sub(
+            r"get\(\$color, (.+), (\d)\)",
+            lambda m: palette[m.group(1)][m.group(2)],
+            line,
+        )
+
+    if m := re.match(r"^(.+): ([^\(]+),$", line):
+        var = m.group(1)
+        val = m.group(2)
+
+        if reached_colors:
+            colors.setdefault(var, []).append(val)
+        else:
+            props.setdefault(var, []).append(val)
+
+
+copyright_notice = """\
+# Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+# License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+"""
+
+with open(colors_py, "w") as buf:
+    buf.write(copyright_notice)
+    buf.write("# this file is auto-generated from _vars.scss and _colors.scss\n")
+
+    for color, (day, night) in colors.items():
+        color = color.replace("-", "_").upper()
+        buf.write(f'{color} = ("{day}", "{night}")\n')
+
+
+with open(props_py, "w") as buf:
+    buf.write(copyright_notice)
+    buf.write("# this file is auto-generated from _vars.scss\n")
+
+    for prop, val in props.items():
+        day = val[0]
+        night = val[1] if len(val) > 1 else day
+
+        prop = prop.replace("-", "_").upper()
+        buf.write(f'{prop} = ("{day}", "{night}")\n')
diff --git a/sass/BUILD.bazel b/sass/BUILD.bazel
index 2e5ac043c..19885ed97 100644
--- a/sass/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/sass/BUILD.bazel
@@ -84,6 +84,6 @@ sass_library(
 )
 
 exports_files(
-    ["_vars.scss"],
+    ["_colors.scss", "_vars.scss"],
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
 )
diff --git a/sass/_colors.scss b/sass/_colors.scss
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..001b7b19b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sass/_colors.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+/* Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+ * License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later, http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html */
+
+/*
+ *  Anki Color Palette
+ *  custom gray, rest from Tailwind CSS v3 palette
+ *
+ *  ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ */
+
+$color: (
+    gray: (
+        0: #fcfdfe,
+        1: #f2f5f8,
+        2: #dde1e7,
+        3: #aeb5be,
+        4: #7a818a,
+        5: #4a5058,
+        6: #2d3138,
+        7: #181b1f,
+        8: #101215,
+        9: #0b0c0e,
+    ),
+    red: (
+        0: #fef2f2,
+        1: #fee2e2,
+        2: #fecaca,
+        3: #fca5a5,
+        4: #f87171,
+        5: #ef4444,
+        6: #dc2626,
+        7: #b91c1c,
+        8: #991b1b,
+        9: #7f1d1d,
+    ),
+    orange: (
+        0: #fff7ed,
+        1: #ffedd5,
+        2: #fed7aa,
+        3: #fdba74,
+        4: #fb923c,
+        5: #f97316,
+        6: #ea580c,
+        7: #c2410c,
+        8: #9a3412,
+        9: #7c2d12,
+    ),
+    amber: (
+        0: #fffbeb,
+        1: #fef3c7,
+        2: #fde68a,
+        3: #fcd34d,
+        4: #fbbf24,
+        5: #f59e0b,
+        6: #d97706,
+        7: #b45309,
+        8: #92400e,
+        9: #78350f,
+    ),
+    yellow: (
+        0: #fefce8,
+        1: #fef9c3,
+        2: #fef08a,
+        3: #fde047,
+        4: #facc15,
+        5: #eab308,
+        6: #ca8a04,
+        7: #a16207,
+        8: #854d0e,
+        9: #713f12,
+    ),
+    lime: (
+        0: #f7fee7,
+        1: #ecfccb,
+        2: #d9f99d,
+        3: #bef264,
+        4: #a3e635,
+        5: #84cc16,
+        6: #65a30d,
+        7: #4d7c0f,
+        8: #3f6212,
+        9: #365314,
+    ),
+    green: (
+        0: #f0fdf4,
+        1: #dcfce7,
+        2: #bbf7d0,
+        3: #86efac,
+        4: #4ade80,
+        5: #22c55e,
+        6: #16a34a,
+        7: #15803d,
+        8: #166534,
+        9: #14532d,
+    ),
+    teal: (
+        0: #f0fdfa,
+        1: #ccfbf1,
+        2: #99f6e4,
+        3: #5eead4,
+        4: #2dd4bf,
+        5: #14b8a6,
+        6: #0d9488,
+        7: #0f766e,
+        8: #115e59,
+        9: #134e4a,
+    ),
+    cyan: (
+        0: #ecfeff,
+        1: #cffafe,
+        2: #a5f3fc,
+        3: #67e8f9,
+        4: #22d3ee,
+        5: #06b6d4,
+        6: #0891b2,
+        7: #0e7490,
+        8: #155e75,
+        9: #164e63,
+    ),
+    sky: (
+        0: #f0f9ff,
+        1: #e0f2fe,
+        2: #bae6fd,
+        3: #7dd3fc,
+        4: #38bdf8,
+        5: #0ea5e9,
+        6: #0284c7,
+        7: #0369a1,
+        8: #075985,
+        9: #0c4a6e,
+    ),
+    blue: (
+        0: #eff6ff,
+        1: #dbeafe,
+        2: #bfdbfe,
+        3: #93c5fd,
+        4: #60a5fa,
+        5: #3b82f6,
+        6: #2563eb,
+        7: #1d4ed8,
+        8: #1e40af,
+        9: #1e3a8a,
+    ),
+    indigo: (
+        0: #eef2ff,
+        1: #e0e7ff,
+        2: #c7d2fe,
+        3: #a5b4fc,
+        4: #818cf8,
+        5: #6366f1,
+        6: #4f46e5,
+        7: #4338ca,
+        8: #3730a3,
+        9: #312e81,
+    ),
+    violet: (
+        0: #f5f3ff,
+        1: #ede9fe,
+        2: #ddd6fe,
+        3: #c4b5fd,
+        4: #a78bfa,
+        5: #8b5cf6,
+        6: #7c3aed,
+        7: #6d28d9,
+        8: #5b21b6,
+        9: #4c1d95,
+    ),
+    purple: (
+        0: #faf5ff,
+        1: #f3e8ff,
+        2: #e9d5ff,
+        3: #d8b4fe,
+        4: #c084fc,
+        5: #a855f7,
+        6: #9333ea,
+        7: #7e22ce,
+        8: #6b21a8,
+        9: #581c87,
+    ),
+    fuchsia: (
+        0: #fdf4ff,
+        1: #fae8ff,
+        2: #f5d0fe,
+        3: #f0abfc,
+        4: #e879f9,
+        5: #d946ef,
+        6: #c026d3,
+        7: #a21caf,
+        8: #86198f,
+        9: #701a75,
+    ),
+    pink: (
+        0: #fdf2f8,
+        1: #fce7f3,
+        2: #fbcfe8,
+        3: #f9a8d4,
+        4: #f472b6,
+        5: #ec4899,
+        6: #db2777,
+        7: #be185d,
+        8: #9d174d,
+        9: #831843,
+    ),
+);
diff --git a/sass/_vars.scss b/sass/_vars.scss
index 2e584d1da..481298fa8 100644
--- a/sass/_vars.scss
+++ b/sass/_vars.scss
@@ -1,81 +1,110 @@
 /* Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
- * License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html */
+ * License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later, http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html */
+
+@use "colors" as *;
+
+@function get($map, $keys...) {
+    @each $key in $keys {
+        $map: map-get($map, $key);
+    }
+    @return $map;
+}
+
+$vars: (
+    props: (
+        border-radius-default: 5px,
+    ),
+    themes: (
+        light: (
+            text-fg: get($color, gray, 9),
+            window-bg: get($color, gray, 1),
+            frame-bg: white,
+            border: get($color, gray, 4),
+            faint-border: get($color, gray, 2),
+            link: get($color, blue, 9),
+            review-count: #0a0,
+            new-count: get($color, blue, 9),
+            learn-count: get($color, orange, 7),
+            zero-count: get($color, gray, 2),
+            slightly-grey-text: get($color, gray, 8),
+            highlight-bg: get($color, cyan, 2),
+            highlight-fg: black,
+            disabled: get($color, gray, 5),
+            flag1-fg: get($color, red, 6),
+            flag2-fg: get($color, orange, 5),
+            flag3-fg: get($color, green, 5),
+            flag4-fg: get($color, blue, 5),
+            flag5-fg: get($color, fuchsia, 4),
+            flag6-fg: get($color, teal, 5),
+            flag7-fg: get($color, purple, 6),
+            flag1-bg: get($color, red, 5),
+            flag2-bg: get($color, orange, 3),
+            flag3-bg: get($color, green, 3),
+            flag4-bg: get($color, blue, 3),
+            flag5-bg: get($color, fuchsia, 2),
+            flag6-bg: get($color, teal, 4),
+            flag7-bg: get($color, purple, 4),
+            buried-fg: get($color, amber, 5),
+            suspended-fg: get($color, yellow, 4),
+            suspended-bg: get($color, yellow, 1),
+            marked-bg: get($color, indigo, 2),
+            tooltip-bg: get($color, gray, 0),
+            focus-border: get($color, indigo, 6),
+        ),
+        dark: (
+            text-fg: get($color, gray, 0),
+            window-bg: get($color, gray, 7),
+            frame-bg: get($color, gray, 6),
+            border: get($color, gray, 9),
+            faint-border: get($color, gray, 8),
+            link: get($color, blue, 2),
+            review-count: get($color, green, 4),
+            new-count: get($color, blue, 2),
+            learn-count: get($color, red, 4),
+            zero-count: get($color, gray, 7),
+            slightly-grey-text: get($color, gray, 4),
+            highlight-bg: get($color, cyan, 2),
+            highlight-fg: white,
+            disabled: get($color, gray, 6),
+            flag1-fg: get($color, red, 4),
+            flag2-fg: get($color, orange, 4),
+            flag3-fg: get($color, green, 4),
+            flag4-fg: get($color, blue, 4),
+            flag5-fg: get($color, fuchsia, 3),
+            flag6-fg: get($color, teal, 4),
+            flag7-fg: get($color, purple, 5),
+            flag1-bg: get($color, red, 6),
+            flag2-bg: get($color, orange, 5),
+            flag3-bg: get($color, green, 5),
+            flag4-bg: get($color, blue, 5),
+            flag5-bg: get($color, fuchsia, 5),
+            flag6-bg: get($color, teal, 5),
+            flag7-bg: get($color, purple, 7),
+            buried-fg: get($color, amber, 8),
+            suspended-fg: get($color, yellow, 1),
+            suspended-bg: get($color, yellow, 5),
+            marked-bg: get($color, purple, 5),
+            tooltip-bg: get($color, gray, 8),
+            focus-border: get($color, indigo, 5),
+        ),
+    ),
+);
 
 :root {
-    --text-fg: black;
-    --window-bg: #ececec;
-    --frame-bg: white;
-    --border: #aaa;
-    --medium-border: #b6b6b6;
-    --faint-border: #e7e7e7;
-    --link: #00a;
-    --review-count: #0a0;
-    --new-count: #00a;
-    --learn-count: #c35617;
-    --zero-count: #ddd;
-    --slightly-grey-text: #333;
-    --highlight-bg: #77ccff;
-    --highlight-fg: black;
-    --disabled: #777;
-    --flag1-fg: #e25252;
-    --flag2-fg: #ffb347;
-    --flag3-fg: #54c414;
-    --flag4-fg: #578cff;
-    --flag5-fg: #ff82ee;
-    --flag6-fg: #00d1b5;
-    --flag7-fg: #9649dd;
-    --flag1-bg: #ff9b9b;
-    --flag2-bg: #ffb347;
-    --flag3-bg: #93e066;
-    --flag4-bg: #9dbcff;
-    --flag5-bg: #f5a8eb;
-    --flag6-bg: #7edbd7;
-    --flag7-bg: #cca3f1;
-    --buried-fg: #aaaa33;
-    --suspended-fg: #dd0;
-    --suspended-bg: #ffffb2;
-    --marked-bg: #cce;
-    --tooltip-bg: #fcfcfc;
-    --focus-border: #0969da;
-    --focus-shadow: rgba(9 105 218 / 0.3);
+    @each $name, $value in get($vars, themes, light) {
+        --#{$name}: #{$value};
+    }
+    &.night-mode {
+        @each $name, $value in get($vars, themes, dark) {
+            --#{$name}: #{$value};
+        }
+        color-scheme: dark;
+    }
 }
 
-:root[class*="night-mode"] {
-    --text-fg: white;
-    --window-bg: #2f2f31;
-    --frame-bg: #3a3a3a;
-    --border: #777;
-    --medium-border: #444;
-    --faint-border: #29292b;
-    --link: #77ccff;
-    --review-count: #5ccc00;
-    --new-count: #77ccff;
-    --learn-count: #ff935b;
-    --zero-count: #444;
-    --slightly-grey-text: #ccc;
-    --highlight-bg: #77ccff;
-    --highlight-fg: white;
-    --disabled: #777;
-    --flag1-fg: #ff7b7b;
-    --flag2-fg: #f5aa41;
-    --flag3-fg: #86ce5d;
-    --flag4-fg: #6f9dff;
-    --flag5-fg: #f097e4;
-    --flag6-fg: #5ccfca;
-    --flag7-fg: #9f63d3;
-    --flag1-bg: #aa5555;
-    --flag2-bg: #ac653a;
-    --flag3-bg: #559238;
-    --flag4-bg: #506aa3;
-    --flag5-bg: #975d8f;
-    --flag6-bg: #399185;
-    --flag7-bg: #624b77;
-    --buried-fg: #777733;
-    --suspended-fg: #ffffb2;
-    --suspended-bg: #aaaa33;
-    --marked-bg: #77c;
-    --tooltip-bg: #272727;
-    --focus-border: #316dca;
-    --focus-shadow: #194380;
-    color-scheme: dark;
+/* separate rule for cleaner dev tools appearance */
+:root {
+    @each $name, $value in get($vars, props) {
+        --#{$name}: #{$value};
+    }
 }