diff --git a/app/templates/base.html b/app/templates/base.html
index b90a1be..9af0791 100644
--- a/app/templates/base.html
+++ b/app/templates/base.html
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="{{ url_for('static', filename='favicon-16x16.png') }}">
     <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="{{ url_for('static', filename='apple-touch-icon.png') }}">
     
+    <!-- Preconnect to CDNs for better performance -->
+    <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net">
+    <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
+    <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
+    
+    <!-- Google Fonts - Inter for modern look -->
+    <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@400;500;600;700;800&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">
+    
     <!-- Bootstrap 5 CSS -->
     <link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.0/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
     
@@ -21,6 +29,10 @@
     <link rel="stylesheet" href="{{ url_for('static', filename='css/style.css') }}">
     
     {% block extra_css %}{% endblock %}
+    
+    <!-- Meta description for SEO -->
+    <meta name="description" content="Organize and manage your LEGO instruction manuals with ease. Upload PDFs, search by theme, and integrate with Brickset API.">
+    <meta name="theme-color" content="#d11013">
 </head>
 <body>
     <!-- Navigation -->
@@ -67,9 +79,9 @@
                                 <i class="bi bi-person-circle"></i> {{ current_user.username }}
                             </a>
                             <ul class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-end">
-                                <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="{{ url_for('auth.profile') }}">Profile</a></li>
+                                <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="{{ url_for('auth.profile') }}"><i class="bi bi-person"></i> Profile</a></li>
                                 <li><hr class="dropdown-divider"></li>
-                                <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="{{ url_for('auth.logout') }}">Logout</a></li>
+                                <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="{{ url_for('auth.logout') }}"><i class="bi bi-box-arrow-right"></i> Logout</a></li>
                             </ul>
                         </li>
                     {% else %}
@@ -95,6 +107,15 @@
             {% if messages %}
                 {% for category, message in messages %}
                     <div class="alert alert-{{ category }} alert-dismissible fade show" role="alert">
+                        {% if category == 'success' %}
+                            <i class="bi bi-check-circle-fill me-2"></i>
+                        {% elif category == 'danger' %}
+                            <i class="bi bi-exclamation-triangle-fill me-2"></i>
+                        {% elif category == 'warning' %}
+                            <i class="bi bi-exclamation-circle-fill me-2"></i>
+                        {% elif category == 'info' %}
+                            <i class="bi bi-info-circle-fill me-2"></i>
+                        {% endif %}
                         {{ message }}
                         <button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="alert"></button>
                     </div>
@@ -109,10 +130,16 @@
     </main>
 
     <!-- Footer -->
-    <footer class="mt-5 py-4 bg-light">
-        <div class="container text-center text-muted">
-            <p class="mb-0">
-                <i class="bi bi-bricks"></i> LEGO Instructions Manager &copy; 2024
+    <footer class="mt-5 py-4">
+        <div class="container text-center">
+            <p class="mb-2">
+                <i class="bi bi-bricks"></i> <strong>LEGO Instructions Manager</strong>
+            </p>
+            <p class="mb-2 small">
+                Organize, manage, and access all your LEGO instruction manuals
+            </p>
+            <p class="mb-0 small">
+                &copy; 2024-{{ "now"|date("Y") }} LEGO Instructions Manager
                 {% if brickset_available %}
                     <span class="badge bg-success ms-2">
                         <i class="bi bi-check-circle"></i> Brickset Connected
@@ -128,6 +155,67 @@
     <!-- jQuery (for easier AJAX) -->
     <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.1.min.js"></script>
     
+    <!-- Custom JavaScript for enhancements -->
+    <script>
+        // Add smooth scroll behavior
+        document.querySelectorAll('a[href^="#"]').forEach(anchor => {
+            anchor.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                const target = document.querySelector(this.getAttribute('href'));
+                if (target) {
+                    target.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'start' });
+                }
+            });
+        });
+
+        // Auto-hide flash messages after 5 seconds
+        setTimeout(function() {
+            const alerts = document.querySelectorAll('.alert');
+            alerts.forEach(alert => {
+                const bsAlert = new bootstrap.Alert(alert);
+                bsAlert.close();
+            });
+        }, 5000);
+
+        // Add loading state to buttons on form submit
+        document.querySelectorAll('form').forEach(form => {
+            form.addEventListener('submit', function(e) {
+                const submitBtn = this.querySelector('button[type="submit"]');
+                if (submitBtn && !submitBtn.disabled) {
+                    submitBtn.disabled = true;
+                    const originalText = submitBtn.innerHTML;
+                    submitBtn.innerHTML = '<span class="spinner-border spinner-border-sm me-2"></span>Loading...';
+                    
+                    // Re-enable after 10 seconds as fallback
+                    setTimeout(() => {
+                        submitBtn.disabled = false;
+                        submitBtn.innerHTML = originalText;
+                    }, 10000);
+                }
+            });
+        });
+
+        // Add ripple effect to buttons
+        document.querySelectorAll('.btn').forEach(button => {
+            button.addEventListener('click', function(e) {
+                const ripple = document.createElement('span');
+                const rect = this.getBoundingClientRect();
+                const size = Math.max(rect.width, rect.height);
+                const x = e.clientX - rect.left - size / 2;
+                const y = e.clientY - rect.top - size / 2;
+                
+                ripple.style.width = ripple.style.height = size + 'px';
+                ripple.style.left = x + 'px';
+                ripple.style.top = y + 'px';
+                ripple.classList.add('ripple');
+                
+                this.appendChild(ripple);
+                
+                setTimeout(() => ripple.remove(), 600);
+            });
+        });
+    </script>
+    
     {% block extra_js %}{% endblock %}
 </body>
-</html>
+</html>
\ No newline at end of file
