diff --git a/res/css/views/rooms/_RoomSublist.scss b/res/css/views/rooms/_RoomSublist.scss
index a328d6e025..d3c9b79c69 100644
--- a/res/css/views/rooms/_RoomSublist.scss
+++ b/res/css/views/rooms/_RoomSublist.scss
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ limitations under the License.
                     mask-position: center;
                     mask-size: contain;
                     mask-repeat: no-repeat;
-                    background-color: $primary-fg-color;
+                    background-color: $roomlist-header-color;
                     mask-image: url('$(res)/img/feather-customised/chevron-down.svg');
                 }
 
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ limitations under the License.
             mask-position: center;
             mask-size: contain;
             mask-repeat: no-repeat;
-            background: $roomtile-preview-color;
+            background: $roomlist-header-color;
             left: -1px; // adjust for image position
         }
 
diff --git a/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss b/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss
index 15155ba854..e39bb29044 100644
--- a/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss
+++ b/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ $primary-fg-color: $text-primary-color;
 $primary-bg-color: $bg-color;
 $muted-fg-color: $header-panel-text-primary-color;
 
+// additional text colors
+$secondary-fg-color: #A9B2BC;
+$tertiary-fg-color: #8E99A4;
+
 // used for dialog box text
 $light-fg-color: $header-panel-text-secondary-color;
 
@@ -112,10 +116,10 @@ $theme-button-bg-color: #e3e8f0;
 
 $roomlist-button-bg-color: rgba(141, 151, 165, 0.2); // Buttons include the filter box, explore button, and sublist buttons
 $roomlist-bg-color: rgba(33, 38, 44, 0.90);
-$roomlist-header-color: #8E99A4;
+$roomlist-header-color: $tertiary-fg-color;
 $roomsublist-divider-color: $primary-fg-color;
 
-$roomtile-preview-color: #A9B2BC;
+$roomtile-preview-color: $secondary-fg-color;
 $roomtile-default-badge-bg-color: #61708b;
 $roomtile-selected-bg-color: rgba(141, 151, 165, 0.2);
 
diff --git a/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss b/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss
index e317683963..e67bcdf89a 100644
--- a/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss
+++ b/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ $accent-bg-color: rgba(3, 179, 129, 0.16);
 $notice-primary-color: #ff4b55;
 $notice-primary-bg-color: rgba(255, 75, 85, 0.16);
 $primary-fg-color: #2e2f32;
-$roomlist-header-color: $primary-fg-color;
-$notice-secondary-color: $roomlist-header-color;
+$secondary-fg-color: #737D8C;
+$tertiary-fg-color: #8D99A5;
 $header-panel-bg-color: #f3f8fd;
 
 // typical text (dark-on-white in light skin)
@@ -52,10 +52,6 @@ $info-bg-color: #2A9EDF;
 $mention-user-pill-bg-color: $warning-color;
 $other-user-pill-bg-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
 
-// pinned events indicator
-$pinned-unread-color: $notice-primary-color;
-$pinned-color: $notice-secondary-color;
-
 // informational plinth
 $info-plinth-bg-color: #f7f7f7;
 $info-plinth-fg-color: #888;
@@ -178,9 +174,10 @@ $theme-button-bg-color: #e3e8f0;
 
 $roomlist-button-bg-color: #fff; // Buttons include the filter box, explore button, and sublist buttons
 $roomlist-bg-color: rgba(245, 245, 245, 0.90);
+$roomlist-header-color: $tertiary-fg-color;
 $roomsublist-divider-color: $primary-fg-color;
 
-$roomtile-preview-color: #737D8C;
+$roomtile-preview-color: $secondary-fg-color;
 $roomtile-default-badge-bg-color: #61708b;
 $roomtile-selected-bg-color: #FFF;
 
@@ -199,8 +196,14 @@ $username-variant6-color: #2dc2c5;
 $username-variant7-color: #5c56f5;
 $username-variant8-color: #74d12c;
 
+$notice-secondary-color: $roomlist-header-color;
+
 $panel-divider-color: transparent;
 
+// pinned events indicator
+$pinned-unread-color: $notice-primary-color;
+$pinned-color: $notice-secondary-color;
+
 // ********************
 
 $widget-menu-bar-bg-color: $secondary-accent-color;