diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/layout.css b/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
index 0f93fa13..ef368838 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@
 	/* Focus ring — keyboard focus indicator, mode-aware (navy in light, mint in dark) */
 	--color-focus-ring: var(--c-focus-ring);
 
+	/* Parchment — warm background for code/example blocks inside cards */
+	--color-parchment: var(--c-parchment);
+
 	/* Danger — destructive action color */
 	--color-danger: var(--c-danger);
 	--color-danger-fg: var(--c-danger-fg);
@@ -122,6 +125,9 @@
 	--c-danger: #c0392b;
 	--c-danger-fg: #ffffff;
 
+	/* Parchment — warm near-white for example blocks (light mode: cream #FAF8F1) */
+	--c-parchment: #faf8f1;
+
 	/* Tag color tokens — decorative dot colors on tag chips */
 	--c-tag-sage: #5a8a6a;
 	--c-tag-sienna: #a0522d;
@@ -203,6 +209,9 @@
 		--c-danger: #e55347;
 		--c-danger-fg: #ffffff;
 
+		/* Parchment — subtle surface shift for example blocks on dark navy */
+		--c-parchment: #041828;
+
 		/* Tag color tokens — lighter for visibility on dark backgrounds */
 		--c-tag-sage: #7abf8a;
 		--c-tag-sienna: #cc7050;
@@ -267,6 +276,9 @@
 	--c-danger: #e55347;
 	--c-danger-fg: #ffffff;
 
+	/* Parchment — subtle surface shift for example blocks on dark navy */
+	--c-parchment: #041828;
+
 	/* Tag color tokens — lighter for visibility on dark backgrounds */
 	--c-tag-sage: #7abf8a;
 	--c-tag-sienna: #cc7050;