diff --git a/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py b/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py
index acf937a..c2678f9 100644
--- a/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py
+++ b/tinyweb_forum/handlers.py
@@ -45,9 +45,18 @@ FORUM_CSS = """
 .forum-form label.checkbox-label { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; margin-bottom: 8px; }
 .forum-form label.inline-label { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 4px; margin-bottom: 8px; white-space: nowrap; }
 .forum-form small { display: block; margin-bottom: 8px; }
-.forum-actions { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px; align-items: center; margin: 0.5rem 0; }
-.forum-actions form { display: inline; }
-.forum-actions input[name=q] { width: 200px; padding: 8px 12px; }
+.forum-search { margin: 0.5rem 0; }
+.forum-search form { display: block; }
+.forum-search input[name=q] {
+  width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 10px 12px;
+  background: rgba(8, 18, 22, 0.8); border: 1px solid rgba(40, 70, 65, 0.4);
+  border-radius: 4px; color: #90b4ac; font-size: 0.95rem;
+  transition: border-color 0.2s, box-shadow 0.3s;
+}
+.forum-search input[name=q]:focus {
+  outline: none; border-color: rgba(80, 140, 110, 0.5); box-shadow: 0 0 18px rgba(100, 200, 150, 0.06);
+}
+.forum-actions { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 8px; align-items: center; margin: 0.5rem 0; }
 a.forum-action, a.forum-action-inline {
   color: #5a7880; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: none; font-size: 0.88rem;
   padding: 8px 14px; border: 1px solid rgba(40, 70, 65, 0.3); border-radius: 4px;
@@ -255,7 +264,7 @@ class ForumHandlers:
             items = "<p>No threads yet.</p>"
         new_label = f" ({new_count} new)" if new_count else ""
         search_form = (
-            f'<form method="get" action="/forum" style="display:inline">'
+            f'<form method="get" action="/forum">'
             f'<input name="q" placeholder="search forum" size="30" value="{esc(search)}">'
             f'</form>'
         )
@@ -264,12 +273,14 @@ class ForumHandlers:
         page_url = f'/forum?q={esc(search)}&tag={esc(tag)}&muted=1' if show_muted else (f'/forum?q={esc(search)}&tag={esc(tag)}' if search or tag else '/forum')
         return self._respond(
             f"<h1>forum{tag_label}</h1>"
-            f'<div class="forum-actions">'
+            f'<div class="forum-search">'
             f'{search_form}'
-            f' <a class="forum-action" href="/forum/new">+ new</a>'
-            f' <a class="forum-action" href="/forum/moderation">mod</a>'
-            f' <a class="forum-action" href="/forum/sync/now">sync now</a>'
-            f' {muted_link}'
+            f"</div>"
+            f'<div class="forum-actions">'
+            f'<a class="forum-action" href="/forum/new">+ new</a>'
+            f'<a class="forum-action" href="/forum/moderation">mod</a>'
+            f'<a class="forum-action" href="/forum/sync/now">sync now</a>'
+            f'{muted_link}'
             f"</div>"
             f"<p class=\"meta\">{total} threads{new_label}</p>"
             f'<ul class="forum-list">{items}</ul>'