diff --git a/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css b/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
--- a/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
+++ b/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
@@ -24,11 +24,7 @@
   background: var(--thread-active-bg);
 }
 
-.activeThread :is(div.dark, .lastMessage span.read, .title) {
-  color: var(--chat-thread-list-color-active);
-}
-
-.activeThread .lastMessage.read {
+.activeThread :is(.title, .lastMessage, .lastMessage *) {
   color: var(--chat-thread-list-color-active);
 }
 
@@ -116,30 +112,26 @@
 }
 
 div.lastMessage {
-  font-size: 16px;
+  font-size: var(--s-font-14);
   white-space: nowrap;
   overflow: hidden;
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
   line-height: var(--line-height-text);
   padding-bottom: 8px;
 }
-div.threadRow > .lastMessage {
-  color: var(--thread-last-message-color-read);
-  font-size: var(--s-font-14);
-}
 div.unread {
   color: var(--fg);
   font-weight: var(--semi-bold);
 }
-div.lastMessage.unread {
-  color: var(--fg);
-}
 div.dark {
   color: var(--thread-color-read);
   padding-right: 16px;
 }
-.read {
-  color: var(--thread-from-color-read);
+.messagePreviewPrimary {
+  color: var(--thread-color-read);
+}
+.messagePreviewSecondary {
+  color: var(--thread-preview-secondary);
 }
 div.dotContainer {
   display: flex;
diff --git a/web/chat/message-preview.react.js b/web/chat/message-preview.react.js
--- a/web/chat/message-preview.react.js
+++ b/web/chat/message-preview.react.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // @flow
 
 import classNames from 'classnames';
+import invariant from 'invariant';
 import * as React from 'react';
 
 import { getMessagePreview } from 'lib/shared/message-utils';
@@ -15,15 +16,9 @@
   +threadInfo: ThreadInfo,
 };
 function MessagePreview(props: Props): React.Node {
-  const {
-    messageInfo: originalMessageInfo,
-    threadInfo,
-    threadInfo: {
-      currentUser: { unread },
-    },
-  } = props;
+  const { messageInfo, threadInfo } = props;
 
-  if (!originalMessageInfo) {
+  if (!messageInfo) {
     return (
       <div className={classNames(css.lastMessage, css.dark, css.italic)}>
         No messages
@@ -32,19 +27,45 @@
   }
 
   const { message, username } = getMessagePreview(
-    originalMessageInfo,
+    messageInfo,
     threadInfo,
     getDefaultTextMessageRules().simpleMarkdownRules,
   );
 
   let usernameText = null;
-  const colorStyle = unread ? css.unread : css.read;
   if (username) {
-    usernameText = <span className={colorStyle}>{`${username.text}: `}</span>;
+    let usernameStyle;
+    if (username.style === 'unread') {
+      usernameStyle = css.unread;
+    } else if (username.style === 'secondary') {
+      usernameStyle = css.messagePreviewSecondary;
+    }
+    invariant(
+      usernameStyle,
+      `MessagePreview doesn't support ${username.style} style for username, ` +
+        'only unread and secondary',
+    );
+    usernameText = (
+      <span className={usernameStyle}>{`${username.text}: `}</span>
+    );
   }
 
+  let messageStyle;
+  if (message.style === 'unread') {
+    messageStyle = css.unread;
+  } else if (message.style === 'primary') {
+    messageStyle = css.messagePreviewPrimary;
+  } else if (message.style === 'secondary') {
+    messageStyle = css.messagePreviewSecondary;
+  }
+  invariant(
+    messageStyle,
+    `MessagePreview doesn't support ${message.style} style for message, ` +
+      'only unread, primary, and secondary',
+  );
+
   return (
-    <div className={classNames(css.lastMessage, colorStyle)}>
+    <div className={classNames(css.lastMessage, messageStyle)}>
       {usernameText}
       {message.text}
     </div>
diff --git a/web/theme.css b/web/theme.css
--- a/web/theme.css
+++ b/web/theme.css
@@ -95,8 +95,7 @@
   --breadcrumb-color-unread: var(--shades-white-60);
   --btn-outline-border: var(--shades-black-60);
   --thread-color-read: var(--shades-black-60);
-  --thread-from-color-read: var(--shades-black-80);
-  --thread-last-message-color-read: var(--shades-black-60);
+  --thread-preview-secondary: var(--shades-black-80);
   --relationship-button-green: var(--success-dark-50);
   --relationship-button-red: var(--error-primary);
   --relationship-button-text: var(--fg);