diff --git a/src/gui/components/_legacy.py b/src/gui/components/_legacy.py
index bee8daf..d5ddc3a 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/_legacy.py
+++ b/src/gui/components/_legacy.py
@@ -60,15 +60,80 @@ header[data-testid="stHeader"] {
 footer {
     display: none !important;
 }
-/* Reclaim top padding lost from hidden header */
+/* Reclaim top padding lost from hidden header. Slim the bottom too —
+   Streamlit's default leaves several rems below the last widget. */
 .stAppViewBlockContainer,
 [data-testid="stAppViewBlockContainer"] {
-    padding-top: 1rem !important;
+    padding-top: 0.5rem !important;
+    padding-bottom: 0.75rem !important;
 }
 /* Scale content to fit app window */
 .stApp {
     zoom: 0.85;
 }
+
+/* ---------- Compact-spacing layer ---------- */
+/* Streamlit ships generous vertical rhythm (~1rem gap between every
+   block, 1.5rem+ above each heading, 1rem on dividers). For a desktop
+   data app that's a lot of empty space. Tighten the gaps without
+   making the layout look cramped. */
+
+/* Gap between stacked elements inside a vertical block (the default
+   container around most page content). */
+[data-testid="stVerticalBlock"] {
+    gap: 0.5rem !important;
+}
+[data-testid="stHorizontalBlock"] {
+    gap: 0.5rem !important;
+}
+
+/* Headings — tighter top space + a hair less below. */
+.stApp h1 { margin-top: 0.25rem !important; margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important; }
+.stApp h2 { margin-top: 0.5rem  !important; margin-bottom: 0.4rem !important; }
+.stApp h3 { margin-top: 0.4rem  !important; margin-bottom: 0.3rem !important; }
+.stApp h4 { margin-top: 0.3rem  !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; }
+
+/* st.divider() — Streamlit's default hr has 1rem above and below. */
+[data-testid="stMarkdownContainer"] hr,
+hr {
+    margin-top: 0.4rem !important;
+    margin-bottom: 0.4rem !important;
+}
+
+/* Markdown paragraphs — slim trailing space. */
+[data-testid="stMarkdownContainer"] p {
+    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
+}
+
+/* Captions — slim trailing space. */
+[data-testid="stCaption"],
+[data-testid="stCaptionContainer"] {
+    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
+}
+
+/* Expander header padding — Streamlit's default is roomy. */
+[data-testid="stExpander"] details > summary {
+    padding-top: 0.35rem;
+    padding-bottom: 0.35rem;
+}
+
+/* Button row inside columns — tighter top space. */
+[data-testid="stButton"],
+[data-testid="stDownloadButton"] {
+    margin-top: 0;
+    margin-bottom: 0;
+}
+
+/* File-uploader internal spacing. */
+[data-testid="stFileUploader"] {
+    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
+}
+
+/* Metric tiles — Streamlit pads them generously inside a row. */
+[data-testid="stMetric"] {
+    padding-top: 0.25rem;
+    padding-bottom: 0.25rem;
+}
 </style>
 """