diff --git a/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-dark.scss b/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-dark.scss
index 6404514f7..88ee865bb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-dark.scss
+++ b/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-dark.scss
@@ -84,6 +84,13 @@ $progress-value-background-color: $border-light;
 $family-primary: $family-sans-serif;
 $family-secondary: $family-sans-serif;
 
+.has-text-muted {
+    color: $grey-lighter !important;
+}
+
+.has-text-more-muted {
+    color: $grey-light !important;
+}
 
 @import "../bookwyrm.scss";
 @import "../vendor/icons.css";
diff --git a/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-light.scss b/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-light.scss
index 69c1a8063..75f05164b 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-light.scss
+++ b/bookwyrm/static/css/themes/bookwyrm-light.scss
@@ -57,5 +57,13 @@ $invisible-overlay-background-color: rgba($scheme-invert, 0.66);
 $family-primary: $family-sans-serif;
 $family-secondary: $family-sans-serif;
 
+.has-text-muted {
+    color: $grey-dark !important;
+}
+
+.has-text-more-muted {
+    color: $grey !important;
+}
+
 @import "../bookwyrm.scss";
 @import "../vendor/icons.css";
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/boost.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/boost.html
index 93bd00cc6..5e3e11513 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/boost.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/boost.html
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@
 
 
 {% block preview %}
-<div class="notification py-2 {% if notification.id in unread %}is-primary is-light{% else %}has-background-body has-text-grey-dark{% endif %}">
+<div class="notification py-2 {% if notification.id in unread %}is-primary is-light{% else %}has-background-body has-text-muted{% endif %}">
     <div class="columns">
         <div class="column is-clipped">
             {% include 'snippets/status_preview.html' with status=related_status %}
         </div>
-        <div class="column is-narrow has-grey-dark">
+        <div class="column is-narrow has-text-muted">
             {{ related_status.published_date|timesince }}
             {% include 'snippets/privacy-icons.html' with item=related_status %}
         </div>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/fav.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/fav.html
index 256385743..eb29ebc26 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/fav.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/fav.html
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@
 
 
 {% block preview %}
-<div class="notification py-2 {% if notification.id in unread %}is-primary is-light{% else %}has-background-body has-text-grey-dark{% endif %}">
+<div class="notification py-2 {% if notification.id in unread %}is-primary is-light{% else %}has-background-body has-text-muted{% endif %}">
     <div class="columns">
         <div class="column is-clipped">
             {% include 'snippets/status_preview.html' with status=related_status %}
         </div>
-        <div class="column is-narrow has-grey-dark">
+        <div class="column is-narrow has-text-muted">
             {{ related_status.published_date|timesince }}
             {% include 'snippets/privacy-icons.html' with item=related_status %}
         </div>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/layout.html
index d595bf20e..e7c3b3147 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/layout.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {% load notification_page_tags %}
 {% related_status notification as related_status %}
 <div class="notification {% if notification.id in unread %}has-background-primary{% endif %}">
-    <div class="columns is-mobile {% if notification.id in unread %}has-text-white{% else %}has-text-grey{% endif %}">
+    <div class="columns is-mobile {% if notification.id in unread %}has-text-white{% else %}has-text-more-muted{% endif %}">
         <div class="column is-narrow is-size-3">
             <a class="icon" href="{% block primary_link %}{% endblock %}">
                 {% block icon %}{% endblock %}