diff --git a/styles.css b/styles.css
index a87a8b1..e526f25 100644
--- a/styles.css
+++ b/styles.css
@@ -1309,4 +1309,40 @@
   overflow: hidden;
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
   margin-right: 4px; /* Add margin to prevent overlap */
+}
+
+.note-status-empty-message {
+  margin-bottom: 12px;
+  text-align: center;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+
+.note-status-button-container {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+  margin-top: 16px;
+}
+
+.note-status-show-unassigned-button {
+  background-color: var(--interactive-accent);
+  color: var(--text-on-accent);
+  padding: 8px 16px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-s, 4px);
+  border: none;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: var(--font-ui-small);
+  transition: all 0.2s var(--ease-out);
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-s);
+}
+
+.note-status-show-unassigned-button:hover {
+  background-color: var(--interactive-accent-hover);
+  transform: translateY(-1px);
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-m);
+}
+
+.note-status-show-unassigned-button:active {
+  transform: translateY(0);
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-xs);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ui/components/status-pane-view.ts b/ui/components/status-pane-view.ts
index 03a1704..2c98460 100644
--- a/ui/components/status-pane-view.ts
+++ b/ui/components/status-pane-view.ts
@@ -200,12 +200,24 @@ export class StatusPaneView extends View {
 			if (searchQuery) {
 				emptyMessage.textContent = `No notes found matching "${searchQuery}"`;
 			} else if (this.settings.excludeUnknownStatus) {
-				emptyMessage.textContent = 'No notes with status found. Unassigned notes are currently hidden.';
+				// Clear any existing content and use a structured layout
+				emptyMessage.empty();
 				
-				// Add a button to show unknown status
-				const showUnknownBtn = emptyMessage.createEl('button', {
+				// Add message text in its own container
+				emptyMessage.createDiv({
+					text: 'No notes with status found. Unassigned notes are currently hidden.',
+					cls: 'note-status-empty-message'
+				});
+				
+				// Create separate container for the button
+				const btnContainer = emptyMessage.createDiv({
+					cls: 'note-status-button-container'
+				});
+				
+				// Add a styled button in its own container
+				const showUnknownBtn = btnContainer.createEl('button', {
 					text: 'Show unassigned notes',
-					cls: 'note-status-action-button'
+					cls: 'note-status-show-unassigned-button'
 				});
 				
 				showUnknownBtn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
@@ -213,8 +225,6 @@ export class StatusPaneView extends View {
 					await this.plugin.saveSettings();
 					this.renderGroups(searchQuery);
 				});
-			} else {
-				emptyMessage.textContent = 'No notes found';
 			}
 		}
 	}