diff --git a/lua/paper-tonic-modern/colors.lua b/lua/paper-tonic-modern/colors.lua
index ab11ddf..a0a9cf7 100644
--- a/lua/paper-tonic-modern/colors.lua
+++ b/lua/paper-tonic-modern/colors.lua
@@ -81,6 +81,16 @@ M.success = {'#89af89', 196, 'white'}    -- Success/addition (muted green)
 M.modified = {'#8989af', 196, 'white'}   -- Modified/change (muted blue)
 M.fail = {'#af8989', 196, 'white'}       -- Fail/deletion (muted red)
 
+-- ============================================================================
+-- Quickfix/Location List Diagnostic Colors (Muted tones like git/diff)
+-- ============================================================================
+
+-- These are for quickfix/location list only - similar muted tone to git/diff
+M.qf_error = {'#af3f3f', 196, 'white'}    -- Error (darker muted red for more contrast)
+M.qf_warn = {'#af7f5f', 196, 'white'}     -- Warning (muted orange)
+M.qf_info = {'#5f8faf', 196, 'white'}     -- Info (muted blue)
+M.qf_hint = {'#5fafaf', 196, 'white'}     -- Hint (lighter muted blue)
+
 -- ============================================================================
 -- Alert/Diagnostic Colors (Fluorescent/Neon - intentionally jarring)
 -- ============================================================================
diff --git a/lua/paper-tonic-modern/groups/editor.lua b/lua/paper-tonic-modern/groups/editor.lua
index 9a1ad52..339b184 100644
--- a/lua/paper-tonic-modern/groups/editor.lua
+++ b/lua/paper-tonic-modern/groups/editor.lua
@@ -125,11 +125,12 @@ return {
   
   -- Diagnostic severity highlighting in quickfix/location list
   -- These are custom syntax groups defined in autocmds.lua (using matchadd)
-  qfError = { bg = c.bg_diag_error, fg = c.fg },      -- "error" word
-  qfWarning = { bg = c.bg_diag_warn, fg = c.fg },     -- "warning" word
-  qfInfo = { bg = c.bg_diag_info, fg = c.fg },        -- "info" word
-  qfHint = { bg = c.bg_diag_hint, fg = c.fg },        -- "hint" word
-  qfNote = { bg = c.bg_diag_hint, fg = c.fg },        -- "note" word (same as hint)
+  -- Uses muted colors (similar tone to git/diff) - not the fluorescent editor diagnostic colors
+  qfError = { fg = c.qf_error, bold = true },      -- "error" word (muted red)
+  qfWarning = { fg = c.qf_warn, bold = true },     -- "warning" word (muted orange)
+  qfInfo = { fg = c.qf_info, bold = true },        -- "info" word (muted blue)
+  qfHint = { fg = c.qf_hint, bold = true },        -- "hint" word (lighter muted blue)
+  qfNote = { fg = c.qf_hint, bold = true },        -- "note" word (same as hint)
   
   -- ============================================================================
   -- Debug