diff --git a/src/ui/mod.rs b/src/ui/mod.rs
index affdb92..b95794d 100644
--- a/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::state::{AppState, PlayerState};
 use ratatui::{
-    layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect},
+    layout::{Alignment, Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect},
     style::{Color, Style},
     text::{Line, Span},
     widgets::{Block, Borders, List, ListItem, Paragraph},
@@ -8,19 +8,26 @@ use ratatui::{
 };
 
 pub fn render(frame: &mut Frame, state: &AppState) {
+    // Three-section layout: title bar, main content, statusbar (like cm-dashboard)
     let main_chunks = Layout::default()
         .direction(Direction::Vertical)
-        .constraints([Constraint::Min(0), Constraint::Length(1)])
+        .constraints([
+            Constraint::Length(1), // Title bar
+            Constraint::Min(0),    // Main content
+            Constraint::Length(1), // Status bar
+        ])
         .split(frame.area());
 
-    let top_chunks = Layout::default()
+    // Main content: left (files) | right (status + playlist)
+    let content_chunks = Layout::default()
         .direction(Direction::Horizontal)
         .constraints([Constraint::Percentage(50), Constraint::Percentage(50)])
-        .split(main_chunks[0]);
+        .split(main_chunks[1]);
 
-    render_file_panel(frame, state, top_chunks[0]);
-    render_right_panel(frame, state, top_chunks[1]);
-    render_status_bar(frame, state, main_chunks[1]);
+    render_title_bar(frame, state, main_chunks[0]);
+    render_file_panel(frame, state, content_chunks[0]);
+    render_right_panel(frame, state, content_chunks[1]);
+    render_status_bar(frame, state, main_chunks[2]);
 }
 
 fn render_file_panel(frame: &mut Frame, state: &AppState, area: Rect) {
@@ -65,17 +72,7 @@ fn render_right_panel(frame: &mut Frame, state: &AppState, area: Rect) {
         .constraints([Constraint::Length(3), Constraint::Min(0)])
         .split(area);
 
-    // Combined status line: State | Progress | Volume
-    let state_text = if state.is_refreshing {
-        "Refreshing library..."
-    } else {
-        match state.player_state {
-            PlayerState::Stopped => "Stopped",
-            PlayerState::Playing => "Playing",
-            PlayerState::Paused => "Paused",
-        }
-    };
-
+    // Combined status line: Progress | Volume
     let progress_text = if state.current_duration > 0.0 {
         let position_mins = (state.current_position / 60.0) as u32;
         let position_secs = (state.current_position % 60.0) as u32;
@@ -89,9 +86,9 @@ fn render_right_panel(frame: &mut Frame, state: &AppState, area: Rect) {
         "00:00/00:00".to_string()
     };
 
-    let combined_status = format!("{} | {} | Vol: {}%", state_text, progress_text, state.volume);
+    let combined_status = format!("{} • Vol: {}%", progress_text, state.volume);
     let status_widget = Paragraph::new(combined_status)
-        .block(Block::default().borders(Borders::ALL).title("Status"))
+        .block(Block::default().borders(Borders::ALL).title("Player"))
         .style(Style::default().fg(Color::White));
     frame.render_widget(status_widget, chunks[0]);
 
@@ -133,30 +130,30 @@ fn render_right_panel(frame: &mut Frame, state: &AppState, area: Rect) {
     frame.render_widget(playlist_widget, chunks[1]);
 }
 
-fn render_status_bar(frame: &mut Frame, _state: &AppState, area: Rect) {
-    let help = Line::from(vec![
-        Span::styled("j/k", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Nav | "),
-        Span::styled("h/l", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Fold | "),
-        Span::styled("t", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Mark | "),
-        Span::styled("c", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Clear | "),
-        Span::styled("Enter", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Play | "),
-        Span::styled("Space", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Pause | "),
-        Span::styled("n/p", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Next/Prev | "),
-        Span::styled("r", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Rescan | "),
-        Span::styled("q", Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
-        Span::raw(" Quit"),
-    ]);
+fn render_title_bar(frame: &mut Frame, state: &AppState, area: Rect) {
+    let status_text = if state.is_refreshing {
+        "Refreshing library..."
+    } else {
+        match state.player_state {
+            PlayerState::Stopped => "Stopped",
+            PlayerState::Playing => "Playing",
+            PlayerState::Paused => "Paused",
+        }
+    };
 
-    let status_bar = Paragraph::new(help)
-        .style(Style::default().fg(Color::White).bg(Color::DarkGray));
+    let title_text = format!("cm-player • {}", status_text);
+    let title = Paragraph::new(title_text)
+        .style(Style::default().fg(Color::Black).bg(Color::Cyan));
+
+    frame.render_widget(title, area);
+}
+
+fn render_status_bar(frame: &mut Frame, _state: &AppState, area: Rect) {
+    let shortcuts = "↑↓/jk: Navigate • h/l: Fold • t: Mark • c: Clear • Enter: Play • Space: Pause • n/p: Next/Prev • r: Rescan • q: Quit";
+
+    let status_bar = Paragraph::new(shortcuts)
+        .style(Style::default().fg(Color::White))
+        .alignment(Alignment::Center);
 
     frame.render_widget(status_bar, area);
 }