diff --git a/docs/design.md b/docs/design.md
index 541fe9c6f5..e0904d917e 100644
--- a/docs/design.md
+++ b/docs/design.md
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ Terminology:
 
 Loading is inline by default. `<LoadingSpinner size={14} color={foregroundMuted} />` sits next to the thing it relates to (`packages/app/src/screens/settings/providers-section.tsx:227-231`). Page-level loading is a centered `<LoadingSpinner size="large">` (`packages/app/src/screens/sessions-screen.tsx:69-72`). Card-level loading is a single short line, not a spinner. In-row dropdown items use `<DropdownMenuItem status="pending" pendingLabel="Removing...">`; the menu item handles its own pending state.
 
-Empty states are short noun phrases. Centered, muted, one or two lines. Sessions screen pairs the empty noun with a single ghost button to navigate back (`packages/app/src/screens/sessions-screen.tsx:74-81`); that pairing is the maximum elaboration. Illustrations and CTAs disguised as empty states are wrong.
+Screen-level empty states use a centered, muted noun phrase and at most one ghost button (`packages/app/src/screens/sessions-screen.tsx`). Sidebar list empty states use a quiet bordered card with a left-aligned `sm` title, a muted `sm` description, and `xs` `<Button>` actions. Use `secondary` for the primary action and `outline` for a secondary action (`packages/app/src/components/sidebar/empty-states.tsx`). Keep both forms short and free of illustrations.
 
 Inline errors are a single sentence in `palette.red[300]` `xs`, sitting under the field or inside the card it relates to (`packages/app/src/screens/settings/providers-section.tsx:115-119`).
 
diff --git a/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-compact.png b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-compact.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..140bcf2052
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-compact.png differ
diff --git a/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-dark.png b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-dark.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8a2c4bf8ae
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-dark.png differ
diff --git a/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-light.png b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e283932a5b
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/after-light.png differ
diff --git a/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/before-dark.png b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/before-dark.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0b5269331f
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/before-dark.png differ
diff --git a/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/before-light.png b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/before-light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..95ce14ad3a
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/qa-evidence/sidebar-empty-state-card/before-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/empty-states.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/empty-states.tsx
index 4aaf93e0cc..3328ed2c5c 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/empty-states.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/empty-states.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback } from "react";
+import { type ReactNode, useCallback } from "react";
 import { Import, Plus } from "lucide-react-native";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { Text, View } from "react-native";
@@ -6,6 +6,28 @@ import { StyleSheet } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { useSidebarViewStore } from "@/stores/sidebar-view-store";
 
+function SidebarEmptyStateCard({
+  testID,
+  title,
+  description,
+  children,
+}: {
+  testID: string;
+  title: string;
+  description: string;
+  children: ReactNode;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <View style={styles.card} testID={testID}>
+      <View style={styles.copy}>
+        <Text style={styles.title}>{title}</Text>
+        <Text style={styles.description}>{description}</Text>
+      </View>
+      <View style={styles.actions}>{children}</View>
+    </View>
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * The two things the sidebar's workspace list says when it has no rows.
  *
@@ -27,13 +49,15 @@ export function SidebarFilterEmptyState() {
   }, [clearLabelFilter, clearProjectFilters]);
 
   return (
-    <View style={styles.container} testID="sidebar-filter-empty-state">
-      <Text style={styles.title}>{t("sidebar.filterEmpty.title")}</Text>
-      <Text style={styles.description}>{t("sidebar.filterEmpty.description")}</Text>
-      <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" onPress={clearFilters}>
+    <SidebarEmptyStateCard
+      testID="sidebar-filter-empty-state"
+      title={t("sidebar.filterEmpty.title")}
+      description={t("sidebar.filterEmpty.description")}
+    >
+      <Button variant="secondary" size="xs" onPress={clearFilters}>
         {t("sidebar.filterEmpty.clear")}
       </Button>
-    </View>
+    </SidebarEmptyStateCard>
   );
 }
 
@@ -47,40 +71,44 @@ export function SidebarProjectEmptyState({
   const { t } = useTranslation();
 
   return (
-    <View style={styles.container} testID="sidebar-project-empty-state">
-      <Text style={styles.title}>{t("sidebar.project.empty.title")}</Text>
-      <Text style={styles.description}>{t("sidebar.project.empty.description")}</Text>
-      <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" leftIcon={Plus} onPress={onAddProject}>
+    <SidebarEmptyStateCard
+      testID="sidebar-project-empty-state"
+      title={t("sidebar.project.empty.title")}
+      description={t("sidebar.project.empty.description")}
+    >
+      <Button variant="secondary" size="xs" leftIcon={Plus} onPress={onAddProject}>
         {t("sidebar.actions.addProject")}
       </Button>
-      <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" leftIcon={Import} onPress={onImportSession}>
+      <Button variant="outline" size="xs" leftIcon={Import} onPress={onImportSession}>
         {t("importSession.title")}
       </Button>
-    </View>
+    </SidebarEmptyStateCard>
   );
 }
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
-  container: {
-    marginHorizontal: theme.spacing[2],
-    marginTop: theme.spacing[4],
-    paddingTop: theme.spacing[6],
-    paddingBottom: theme.spacing[4],
-    paddingHorizontal: theme.spacing[4],
+  card: {
+    marginTop: theme.spacing[3],
+    padding: theme.spacing[4],
+    borderWidth: 1,
+    borderColor: theme.colors.border,
     borderRadius: theme.borderRadius.lg,
-    backgroundColor: theme.colors.surface0,
-    alignItems: "center",
-    gap: theme.spacing[3],
+  },
+  copy: {
+    gap: theme.spacing[1],
+  },
+  actions: {
+    flexDirection: "row",
+    gap: theme.spacing[2],
+    marginTop: theme.spacing[4],
   },
   title: {
     color: theme.colors.foreground,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
-    fontWeight: theme.fontWeight.medium,
-    textAlign: "center",
+    fontWeight: theme.fontWeight.normal,
   },
   description: {
     color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
-    textAlign: "center",
   },
 }));