diff --git a/client/src/app/chat-page.component.html b/client/src/app/chat-page.component.html
index 5edc7da..7d986cb 100644
--- a/client/src/app/chat-page.component.html
+++ b/client/src/app/chat-page.component.html
@@ -70,6 +70,98 @@
           <div class="chat-header-main">
             <a class="back-link" routerLink="/" aria-label="Back to dashboard">←</a>
             <h1 class="chat-header-title mb-0">{{ connectedUser.displayName }}</h1>
+            @if (displayedPeer(); as selectedPeer) {
+              <div class="peer-dropdown" (click)="$event.stopPropagation()">
+                <button
+                  class="peer-dropdown-trigger peer-tile"
+                  type="button"
+                  [class.peer-tile-active]="true"
+                  [class.peer-tile-unread]="isPeerUnread(selectedPeer.id)"
+                  (click)="togglePeerDropdown()"
+                  [attr.aria-expanded]="peerDropdownOpen()"
+                  aria-haspopup="listbox"
+                  aria-label="Choose peer"
+                >
+                  <span class="peer-tile-main text-start">
+                    <span class="peer-tile-row">
+                      <span class="peer-tile-title">
+                        <span class="fw-semibold">{{ selectedPeer.displayName }}</span>
+                        @if (isPeerTyping(selectedPeer.id)) {
+                          <span class="peer-typing-dots" aria-label="Typing">
+                            <span></span>
+                            <span></span>
+                            <span></span>
+                          </span>
+                        }
+                      </span>
+                      <span class="peer-tile-indicators">
+                        <span
+                          class="status-led peer-tile-status"
+                          [class.status-led-ok]="selectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || selectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'"
+                          [class.status-led-offline]="selectedPeer.channelState !== 'open' && selectedPeer.connectionState !== 'connected'"
+                          [attr.aria-label]="
+                            selectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || selectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'
+                              ? 'Connected'
+                              : 'Disconnected'
+                          "
+                        ></span>
+                        <span class="peer-dropdown-caret" [class.peer-dropdown-caret-open]="peerDropdownOpen()">▾</span>
+                      </span>
+                    </span>
+                  </span>
+                </button>
+
+                @if (peerDropdownOpen()) {
+                  <div class="peer-dropdown-menu" role="listbox">
+                    @for (connectedPeer of session.peers(); track connectedPeer.id) {
+                      <article
+                        class="peer-tile"
+                        [class.peer-tile-active]="connectedPeer.id === peerId()"
+                        [class.peer-tile-unread]="isPeerUnread(connectedPeer.id)"
+                      >
+                        <button
+                          class="peer-tile-main text-start"
+                          type="button"
+                          (click)="selectPeerFromDropdown(connectedPeer.id)"
+                        >
+                          <div class="peer-tile-row">
+                            <span class="peer-tile-title">
+                              <span class="fw-semibold">{{ connectedPeer.displayName }}</span>
+                              @if (isPeerTyping(connectedPeer.id)) {
+                                <span class="peer-typing-dots" aria-label="Typing">
+                                  <span></span>
+                                  <span></span>
+                                  <span></span>
+                                </span>
+                              }
+                            </span>
+                            <span
+                              class="status-led peer-tile-status"
+                              [class.status-led-ok]="connectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || connectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'"
+                              [class.status-led-offline]="connectedPeer.channelState !== 'open' && connectedPeer.connectionState !== 'connected'"
+                              [attr.aria-label]="
+                                connectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || connectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'
+                                  ? 'Connected'
+                                  : 'Disconnected'
+                              "
+                            ></span>
+                          </div>
+                        </button>
+                        <button
+                          class="peer-tile-delete"
+                          type="button"
+                          title="Delete conversation"
+                          aria-label="Delete conversation"
+                          (click)="deleteConversation(connectedPeer.id, $event)"
+                        >
+                          🗑️
+                        </button>
+                      </article>
+                    }
+                  </div>
+                }
+              </div>
+            }
             <div class="status-indicators">
               <div class="status-indicator">
                 <span class="status-led" [class.status-led-ok]="indicatorTone(session.signalingState()) === 'ok'" [class.status-led-connecting]="indicatorTone(session.signalingState()) === 'connecting'" [class.status-led-offline]="indicatorTone(session.signalingState()) === 'offline'"></span>
@@ -107,105 +199,6 @@
       </div>
 
       <div class="chat-layout">
-        <aside class="peer-sidebar" (click)="$event.stopPropagation()">
-          @if (displayedPeer(); as selectedPeer) {
-            <div class="peer-dropdown">
-              <button
-                class="peer-dropdown-trigger peer-tile"
-                type="button"
-                [class.peer-tile-active]="true"
-                [class.peer-tile-unread]="isPeerUnread(selectedPeer.id)"
-                (click)="togglePeerDropdown()"
-                [attr.aria-expanded]="peerDropdownOpen()"
-                aria-haspopup="listbox"
-                aria-label="Choose peer"
-              >
-                <span class="peer-tile-main text-start">
-                  <span class="peer-tile-row">
-                    <span class="peer-tile-title">
-                      <span class="fw-semibold">{{ selectedPeer.displayName }}</span>
-                      @if (isPeerTyping(selectedPeer.id)) {
-                        <span class="peer-typing-dots" aria-label="Typing">
-                          <span></span>
-                          <span></span>
-                          <span></span>
-                        </span>
-                      }
-                    </span>
-                    <span class="peer-tile-indicators">
-                      <span
-                        class="status-led peer-tile-status"
-                        [class.status-led-ok]="selectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || selectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'"
-                        [class.status-led-offline]="selectedPeer.channelState !== 'open' && selectedPeer.connectionState !== 'connected'"
-                        [attr.aria-label]="
-                          selectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || selectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'
-                            ? 'Connected'
-                            : 'Disconnected'
-                        "
-                      ></span>
-                      <span class="peer-dropdown-caret" [class.peer-dropdown-caret-open]="peerDropdownOpen()">▾</span>
-                    </span>
-                  </span>
-                </span>
-              </button>
-
-              @if (peerDropdownOpen()) {
-                <div class="peer-dropdown-menu" role="listbox">
-                  @for (connectedPeer of session.peers(); track connectedPeer.id) {
-                    <article
-                      class="peer-tile"
-                      [class.peer-tile-active]="connectedPeer.id === peerId()"
-                      [class.peer-tile-unread]="isPeerUnread(connectedPeer.id)"
-                    >
-                      <button
-                        class="peer-tile-main text-start"
-                        type="button"
-                        (click)="selectPeerFromDropdown(connectedPeer.id)"
-                      >
-                        <div class="peer-tile-row">
-                          <span class="peer-tile-title">
-                            <span class="fw-semibold">{{ connectedPeer.displayName }}</span>
-                            @if (isPeerTyping(connectedPeer.id)) {
-                              <span class="peer-typing-dots" aria-label="Typing">
-                                <span></span>
-                                <span></span>
-                                <span></span>
-                              </span>
-                            }
-                          </span>
-                          <span
-                            class="status-led peer-tile-status"
-                            [class.status-led-ok]="connectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || connectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'"
-                            [class.status-led-offline]="connectedPeer.channelState !== 'open' && connectedPeer.connectionState !== 'connected'"
-                            [attr.aria-label]="
-                              connectedPeer.channelState === 'open' || connectedPeer.connectionState === 'connected'
-                                ? 'Connected'
-                                : 'Disconnected'
-                            "
-                          ></span>
-                        </div>
-                      </button>
-                      <button
-                        class="peer-tile-delete"
-                        type="button"
-                        title="Delete conversation"
-                        aria-label="Delete conversation"
-                        (click)="deleteConversation(connectedPeer.id, $event)"
-                      >
-                        🗑️
-                      </button>
-                    </article>
-                  }
-                </div>
-              }
-            </div>
-          } @else {
-            <div class="empty-chat empty-peers">
-              No peers are currently connected.
-            </div>
-          }
-        </aside>
-
         <div class="chat-main" (click)="closePeerDropdown()">
           <div #conversationContainer class="conversation">
             <ng-container [ngTemplateOutlet]="conversationBubbles"></ng-container>
@@ -376,8 +369,9 @@
       [class.bubble-incoming]="entry.direction === 'incoming'"
       [class.bubble-outgoing]="entry.direction === 'outgoing'"
       [class.bubble-system]="entry.direction === 'system'"
+      [class.bubble-emoji-only]="isEmojiOnlyEntry(entry)"
     >
-      @if (entry.direction !== 'system') {
+      @if (entry.direction !== 'system' && !isEmojiOnlyEntry(entry)) {
         <div class="bubble-actions">
           @if (isGeneratedImageEntry(entry)) {
             <button
@@ -420,14 +414,16 @@
           }
         </div>
       }
-      <div class="bubble-meta">
-        <span class="bubble-author">{{ entry.authorLabel }}</span>
-        <time class="bubble-time">{{ entry.createdAt | date: 'shortTime' }}</time>
-      </div>
+      @if (!isEmojiOnlyEntry(entry)) {
+        <div class="bubble-meta">
+          <span class="bubble-author">{{ entry.authorLabel }}</span>
+          <time class="bubble-time">{{ entry.createdAt | date: 'shortTime' }}</time>
+        </div>
+      }
 
       @switch (entry.kind) {
         @case ('text') {
-          <p class="mb-0">{{ entry.text }}</p>
+          <p class="mb-0" [class.emoji-only-text]="isEmojiOnlyEntry(entry)">{{ entry.text }}</p>
         }
         @case ('json') {
           <pre class="bubble-json mb-0">{{ entry.payload | json }}</pre>
diff --git a/client/src/app/chat-page.component.scss b/client/src/app/chat-page.component.scss
index ac1286d..f0a041b 100644
--- a/client/src/app/chat-page.component.scss
+++ b/client/src/app/chat-page.component.scss
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@
 .chat-page {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  width: min(100%, 800px);
+  width: min(95vw, 95%);
   height: min(calc(100dvh - 2rem), 1024px);
   max-height: 1024px;
-  margin-inline: auto;
+  margin-inline: 0 auto;
   overflow-x: hidden;
 }
 
@@ -239,21 +239,14 @@
 .chat-layout {
   display: grid;
   flex: 1 1 auto;
-  grid-template-columns: minmax(10rem, 13rem) minmax(0, 1fr);
-  gap:1.25rem;
+  grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr);
+  gap: 0;
   min-height: 0;
 }
 
-.peer-sidebar {
-  padding:1rem;
-  border-radius: 1.3rem;
-  border: 1px solid var(--surface-border-soft);
-  background: var(--panel-soft-background);
-  align-self: start;
-}
-
 .peer-dropdown {
   position: relative;
+  min-width: min(18rem, 42vw);
 }
 
 .peer-dropdown-trigger {
@@ -264,7 +257,7 @@
   position: absolute;
   top: calc(100% + 0.65rem);
   left: 0;
-  right: 0;
+  width: 100%;
   z-index: 4;
   display: grid;
   gap: 0.75rem;
@@ -288,7 +281,7 @@
   border-radius: 1rem;
   color: inherit;
   background: var(--surface-background);
-  font-size: 0.7em;
+  font-size: 1.05em;
   transition: transform 160ms ease, border-color 160ms ease, background 160ms ease;
 }
 
@@ -309,7 +302,7 @@
 }
 
 .peer-dropdown-caret {
-  font-size: 1.34rem;
+  font-size: 4.02rem;
   line-height: 1;
   transition: transform 160ms ease;
 }
@@ -479,6 +472,14 @@
   background: var(--badge-background);
 }
 
+.bubble-emoji-only {
+  max-width: none;
+  padding: 0;
+  border-radius: 0;
+  background: transparent;
+  box-shadow: none;
+}
+
 .bubble-meta {
   display: grid;
   gap: 0.12rem;
@@ -491,6 +492,11 @@
   display: block;
 }
 
+.emoji-only-text {
+  font-size: clamp(2.1rem, 5vw, 3.4rem);
+  line-height: 1.15;
+}
+
 .bubble-system-status {
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
@@ -745,8 +751,8 @@
     grid-template-columns: 1fr;
   }
 
-  .peer-list {
-    max-height: 16rem;
+  .peer-dropdown {
+    min-width: min(100%, 18rem);
   }
 
   .status-indicators {
diff --git a/client/src/app/chat-page.component.ts b/client/src/app/chat-page.component.ts
index 9afbcbe..900c062 100644
--- a/client/src/app/chat-page.component.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/chat-page.component.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ import type { CallMode, ChatEntry, ConnectionState, PeerSummary } from './models
   styleUrl: './chat-page.component.scss',
 })
 export class ChatPageComponent implements OnDestroy {
+  private readonly graphemeSegmenter = typeof Intl !== 'undefined' && 'Segmenter' in Intl
+    ? new Intl.Segmenter(undefined, { granularity: 'grapheme' })
+    : null;
   private readonly route = inject(ActivatedRoute);
   private readonly router = inject(Router);
   private readonly ngZone = inject(NgZone);
@@ -554,6 +557,17 @@ export class ChatPageComponent implements OnDestroy {
     await this.session.deleteMessage(entry);
   }
 
+  isEmojiOnlyEntry(entry: ChatEntry): boolean {
+    if (entry.kind !== 'text' || entry.direction === 'system' || !entry.text?.trim()) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    return entry.text
+      .trim()
+      .split(/\s+/u)
+      .every((token) => this.isEmojiToken(token));
+  }
+
   async deleteConversation(peerId: string, event?: Event): Promise<void> {
     event?.stopPropagation();
     await this.session.deleteConversation(peerId);
@@ -926,4 +940,19 @@ export class ChatPageComponent implements OnDestroy {
       });
     });
   }
+
+  private isEmojiToken(token: string): boolean {
+    if (!token) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    const graphemes = this.graphemeSegmenter
+      ? Array.from(this.graphemeSegmenter.segment(token), ({ segment }) => segment)
+      : [token];
+
+    return graphemes.every((grapheme) =>
+      /[\p{Emoji}\p{Extended_Pictographic}\u20E3]/u.test(grapheme)
+      && /^[\p{Emoji}\p{Emoji_Component}\p{Extended_Pictographic}\u200D\uFE0F\u20E3]+$/u.test(grapheme),
+    );
+  }
 }