diff --git a/briar-android/res/values-v11/styles.xml b/briar-android/res/values-v11/styles.xml
index 3d35b1d09..b41250455 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/values-v11/styles.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/values-v11/styles.xml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 <resources>
 	<style name="LightTheme" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Light.DarkActionBar">
         <item name="android:actionBarStyle">@style/CustomActionBar</item>
+        <item name="android:windowBackground">@color/window_background</item>
     </style>
     <style name="CustomActionBar"
            parent="android:Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar.Solid.Inverse">
diff --git a/briar-android/res/values/color.xml b/briar-android/res/values/color.xml
index d05bd0428..5df37c9f6 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/values/color.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/values/color.xml
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <resources>
+    <color name="window_background">#EEEEEE</color>
     <color name="action_bar_background">#2D3E50</color>
-    <color name="home_screen_background">#FFFFFF</color>
-    <color name="content_background">#FFFFFF</color>
-    <color name="conversation_background">#DDDDDD</color>
+    <color name="button_bar_background">#FFFFFF</color>
+    <color name="private_message_background">#FFFFFF</color>
+	<color name="private_message_date">#AAAAAA</color>
     <color name="unread_background">#FFFFFF</color>
-    <color name="read_background">#EEEEEE</color>
-    <color name="compose_background">#FFFFFF</color>
 	<color name="horizontal_border">#CCCCCC</color>
 	<color name="no_posts">#AAAAAA</color>
-	<color name="private_message_date">#AAAAAA</color>
 </resources>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/DashboardActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/DashboardActivity.java
index b6699664e..f1f604f1e 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/DashboardActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/DashboardActivity.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.res.Resources;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
@@ -155,8 +156,8 @@ public class DashboardActivity extends BriarActivity {
 		grid.setLayoutParams(matchMatch);
 		grid.setGravity(CENTER);
 		grid.setPadding(pad, pad, pad, pad);
-		grid.setBackgroundColor(getResources().getColor(
-				R.color.home_screen_background));
+		Resources res = getResources();
+		grid.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.button_bar_background));
 		grid.setNumColumns(2);
 		grid.setAdapter(new BaseAdapter() {
 
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListActivity.java
index 87db736da..70519d531 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListActivity.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package org.briarproject.android.contact;
 
+import static android.view.Gravity.CENTER;
 import static android.view.Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL;
 import static android.view.View.GONE;
 import static android.view.View.VISIBLE;
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@ import static android.widget.LinearLayout.VERTICAL;
 import static java.util.logging.Level.INFO;
 import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
 import static org.briarproject.android.util.CommonLayoutParams.MATCH_MATCH;
+import static org.briarproject.android.util.CommonLayoutParams.MATCH_WRAP;
 import static org.briarproject.android.util.CommonLayoutParams.MATCH_WRAP_1;
 
 import java.util.Collection;
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ import org.briarproject.api.transport.ConnectionListener;
 import org.briarproject.api.transport.ConnectionRegistry;
 
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.res.Resources;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
@@ -92,11 +95,17 @@ ConnectionListener {
 
 		layout.addView(new HorizontalBorder(this));
 
+		LinearLayout footer = new LinearLayout(this);
+		footer.setLayoutParams(MATCH_WRAP);
+		footer.setGravity(CENTER);
+		Resources res = getResources();
+		footer.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.button_bar_background));
 		addContactButton = new ImageButton(this);
 		addContactButton.setBackgroundResource(0);
 		addContactButton.setImageResource(R.drawable.social_add_person);
 		addContactButton.setOnClickListener(this);
-		layout.addView(addContactButton);
+		footer.addView(addContactButton);
+		layout.addView(footer);
 
 		setContentView(layout);
 	}
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListAdapter.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListAdapter.java
index 42b090fec..501cff3f3 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListAdapter.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ContactListAdapter.java
@@ -35,11 +35,13 @@ class ContactListAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<ContactListItem> {
 	public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
 		ContactListItem item = getItem(position);
 		Context ctx = getContext();
+		Resources res = ctx.getResources();
+
 		LinearLayout layout = new LinearLayout(ctx);
 		layout.setOrientation(HORIZONTAL);
 		layout.setGravity(CENTER_VERTICAL);
-		Resources res = ctx.getResources();
-		if(item.getUnreadCount() > 0)
+		int unread = item.getUnreadCount();
+		if(unread > 0)
 			layout.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.unread_background));
 
 		ImageView bulb = new ImageView(ctx);
@@ -56,7 +58,6 @@ class ContactListAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<ContactListItem> {
 		name.setSingleLine();
 		name.setEllipsize(END);
 		name.setPadding(0, pad, pad, pad);
-		int unread = item.getUnreadCount();
 		String contactName = item.getContact().getAuthor().getName();
 		if(unread > 0) name.setText(contactName + " (" + unread + ")");
 		else name.setText(contactName);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationActivity.java
index 10b3fa463..57aed2a51 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationActivity.java
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ implements EventListener, OnClickListener, OnItemClickListener {
 		list.setClipToPadding(false);
 		// Make the dividers the same colour as the background
 		Resources res = getResources();
-		int background = res.getColor(R.color.conversation_background);
+		int background = res.getColor(R.color.window_background);
 		list.setBackgroundColor(background);
 		list.setDivider(new ColorDrawable(background));
 		list.setDividerHeight(pad);
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ implements EventListener, OnClickListener, OnItemClickListener {
 		footer.setOrientation(HORIZONTAL);
 		footer.setGravity(CENTER_VERTICAL);
 		footer.setPadding(pad, 0, 0, 0);
-		footer.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.compose_background));
+		footer.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.button_bar_background));
 
 		content = new EditText(this);
 		content.setId(1);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationAdapter.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationAdapter.java
index ce82052da..f50ffd724 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationAdapter.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ConversationAdapter.java
@@ -44,9 +44,7 @@ class ConversationAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<ConversationItem> {
 		if(header.isLocal()) layout.setPadding(3 * pad, 0, 0, 0);
 		else layout.setPadding(0, 0, 3 * pad, 0);
 
-		int background;
-		if(header.isRead()) background = res.getColor(R.color.read_background);
-		else background = res.getColor(R.color.unread_background);
+		int background = res.getColor(R.color.private_message_background);
 
 		View content;
 		if(item.getBody() == null) {
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ReadPrivateMessageActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ReadPrivateMessageActivity.java
index 5f2b2ba61..1b4e5be88 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ReadPrivateMessageActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/contact/ReadPrivateMessageActivity.java
@@ -110,8 +110,6 @@ implements OnClickListener {
 
 		LinearLayout message = new LinearLayout(this);
 		message.setOrientation(VERTICAL);
-		Resources res = getResources();
-		message.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.content_background));
 
 		LinearLayout header = new LinearLayout(this);
 		header.setLayoutParams(MATCH_WRAP);
@@ -148,6 +146,8 @@ implements OnClickListener {
 		footer.setLayoutParams(MATCH_WRAP);
 		footer.setOrientation(HORIZONTAL);
 		footer.setGravity(CENTER);
+		Resources res = getResources();
+		footer.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.button_bar_background));
 
 		readButton = new ImageButton(this);
 		readButton.setBackgroundResource(0);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupActivity.java
index 0a363c8f5..d4d7a64de 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupActivity.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package org.briarproject.android.groups;
 
+import static android.view.Gravity.CENTER;
 import static android.view.Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL;
 import static android.view.View.GONE;
 import static android.view.View.VISIBLE;
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ import static java.util.logging.Level.INFO;
 import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
 import static org.briarproject.android.groups.ReadGroupPostActivity.RESULT_PREV_NEXT;
 import static org.briarproject.android.util.CommonLayoutParams.MATCH_MATCH;
+import static org.briarproject.android.util.CommonLayoutParams.MATCH_WRAP;
 import static org.briarproject.android.util.CommonLayoutParams.MATCH_WRAP_1;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ import org.briarproject.api.messaging.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessageId;
 
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.res.Resources;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
@@ -102,11 +105,17 @@ OnClickListener, OnItemClickListener {
 
 		layout.addView(new HorizontalBorder(this));
 
+		LinearLayout footer = new LinearLayout(this);
+		footer.setLayoutParams(MATCH_WRAP);
+		footer.setGravity(CENTER);
+		Resources res = getResources();
+		footer.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.button_bar_background));
 		ImageButton composeButton = new ImageButton(this);
 		composeButton.setBackgroundResource(0);
 		composeButton.setImageResource(R.drawable.content_new_email);
 		composeButton.setOnClickListener(this);
-		layout.addView(composeButton);
+		footer.addView(composeButton);
+		layout.addView(footer);
 
 		setContentView(layout);
 	}
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupAdapter.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupAdapter.java
index df254e08c..ad0e90abe 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupAdapter.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupAdapter.java
@@ -45,10 +45,8 @@ class GroupAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<GroupItem> {
 		LinearLayout layout = new LinearLayout(ctx);
 		layout.setOrientation(VERTICAL);
 		layout.setGravity(CENTER_HORIZONTAL);
-		int background;
-		if(header.isRead()) background = res.getColor(R.color.read_background);
-		else background = res.getColor(R.color.unread_background);
-		layout.setBackgroundColor(background);
+		if(!header.isRead())
+			layout.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.unread_background));
 
 		LinearLayout headerLayout = new LinearLayout(ctx);
 		headerLayout.setOrientation(HORIZONTAL);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListActivity.java
index 959793b66..09ff3fa76 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListActivity.java
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import org.briarproject.api.messaging.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.api.messaging.GroupStatus;
 
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.res.Resources;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
@@ -100,6 +101,8 @@ implements EventListener, OnClickListener, OnItemClickListener {
 		footer.setLayoutParams(MATCH_WRAP);
 		footer.setOrientation(HORIZONTAL);
 		footer.setGravity(CENTER);
+		Resources res = getResources();
+		footer.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.button_bar_background));
 		footer.addView(new ElasticHorizontalSpace(this));
 
 		newGroupButton = new ImageButton(this);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListAdapter.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListAdapter.java
index c1618635e..a82c13606 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListAdapter.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/GroupListAdapter.java
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ class GroupListAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
 
 		LinearLayout layout = new LinearLayout(ctx);
 		layout.setOrientation(HORIZONTAL);
-		if(item.getUnreadCount() > 0)
+		int unread = item.getUnreadCount();
+		if(unread > 0)
 			layout.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.unread_background));
 
 		TextView name = new TextView(ctx);
@@ -86,7 +87,6 @@ class GroupListAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
 		name.setSingleLine();
 		name.setEllipsize(END);
 		name.setPadding(pad, pad, pad, pad);
-		int unread = item.getUnreadCount();
 		String groupName = item.getGroup().getName();
 		if(unread > 0) name.setText(groupName + " (" + unread + ")");
 		else name.setText(groupName);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/ReadGroupPostActivity.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/ReadGroupPostActivity.java
index 491be8e00..ba91e6e8b 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/ReadGroupPostActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/groups/ReadGroupPostActivity.java
@@ -107,8 +107,6 @@ implements OnClickListener {
 
 		LinearLayout message = new LinearLayout(this);
 		message.setOrientation(VERTICAL);
-		Resources res = getResources();
-		message.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.content_background));
 
 		LinearLayout header = new LinearLayout(this);
 		header.setLayoutParams(MATCH_WRAP);
@@ -145,6 +143,8 @@ implements OnClickListener {
 		footer.setLayoutParams(MATCH_WRAP);
 		footer.setOrientation(HORIZONTAL);
 		footer.setGravity(CENTER);
+		Resources res = getResources();
+		footer.setBackgroundColor(res.getColor(R.color.button_bar_background));
 
 		readButton = new ImageButton(this);
 		readButton.setBackgroundResource(0);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/HorizontalBorder.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/HorizontalBorder.java
index 65be8b379..6e0f4f685 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/HorizontalBorder.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/HorizontalBorder.java
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ public class HorizontalBorder extends View {
 
 	public HorizontalBorder(Context ctx) {
 		super(ctx);
-		int width = LayoutUtils.getSeparatorWidth(ctx);
-		setLayoutParams(new LayoutParams(MATCH_PARENT, width));
+		setLayoutParams(new LayoutParams(MATCH_PARENT, 1));
 		setBackgroundColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.horizontal_border));
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/LayoutUtils.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/LayoutUtils.java
index f23fd9ab8..0736448f6 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/LayoutUtils.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/util/LayoutUtils.java
@@ -7,12 +7,6 @@ import android.view.WindowManager;
 
 public class LayoutUtils {
 
-	public static int getSeparatorWidth(Context ctx) {
-		DisplayMetrics metrics = getDisplayMetrics(ctx);
-		int percent = Math.max(metrics.widthPixels, metrics.heightPixels) / 100;
-		return Math.max(2, percent - 8);
-	}
-
 	public static int getPadding(Context ctx) {
 		DisplayMetrics metrics = getDisplayMetrics(ctx);
 		int percent = Math.max(metrics.widthPixels, metrics.heightPixels) / 100;