diff --git a/common/settings/builtin_color_themes.h b/common/settings/builtin_color_themes.h
index 97c581c135..0dfe77a62c 100644
--- a/common/settings/builtin_color_themes.h
+++ b/common/settings/builtin_color_themes.h
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ static const std::map<int, COLOR4D> s_defaultTheme =
             { LAYER_PAD_PLATEDHOLES,        CSS_COLOR( 194, 194, 0, 1 ) },
             { LAYER_PADS_TH,                CSS_COLOR( 227, 183, 46,  1 ) },
             { LAYER_NON_PLATEDHOLES,        CSS_COLOR( 26,  196, 210, 1 ) },
-            { LAYER_RATSNEST,               CSS_COLOR( 245, 255, 213, 0.6 ) },
+            { LAYER_RATSNEST,               CSS_COLOR( 0,   248, 255, 0.35 ) },
             { LAYER_SELECT_OVERLAY,         CSS_COLOR( 4,   255, 67,  1 ) },
             { LAYER_VIA_THROUGH,            CSS_COLOR( 236, 236, 236, 1 ) },
             { LAYER_VIA_BBLIND,             CSS_COLOR( 187, 151, 38,  1 ) },
diff --git a/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp b/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp
index 2aef68c0ab..b3db037d18 100644
--- a/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp
@@ -78,13 +78,14 @@ void RATSNEST_VIEW_ITEM::ViewDraw( int aLayer, KIGFX::VIEW* aView ) const
 
     auto rs = static_cast<KIGFX::PCB_RENDER_SETTINGS*>( aView->GetPainter()->GetSettings() );
 
-    COLOR4D    defaultColor = rs->GetColor( nullptr, LAYER_RATSNEST );
-    COLOR4D    color        = defaultColor;
-    const bool colorByNet   = rs->GetNetColorMode() != NET_COLOR_MODE::OFF;
-
     std::set<int>        highlightedNets = rs->GetHighlightNetCodes();
     const std::set<int>& hiddenNets      = rs->GetHiddenNets();
 
+    COLOR4D    defaultColor = rs->GetColor( nullptr, LAYER_RATSNEST );
+    COLOR4D    color = defaultColor;
+    const bool colorByNet = rs->GetNetColorMode() != NET_COLOR_MODE::OFF;
+    const bool dimStatic = m_data->GetLocalRatsnest().size() > 0 || highlightedNets.size() > 0;
+
     std::map<int, KIGFX::COLOR4D>&      netColors = rs->GetNetColorMap();
     std::map<wxString, KIGFX::COLOR4D>& ncColors  = rs->GetNetclassColorMap();
     const std::map<int, wxString>&      ncMap     = m_data->GetNetclassMap();
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ void RATSNEST_VIEW_ITEM::ViewDraw( int aLayer, KIGFX::VIEW* aView ) const
         if( color == COLOR4D::UNSPECIFIED )
             color = defaultColor;
 
-        gal->SetStrokeColor( color.Brightened( 0.5 ).WithAlpha( std::min( 1.0, color.a + 0.4 ) ) );
+        gal->SetStrokeColor( color.Brightened( 0.5 ).WithAlpha( std::min( 1.0, color.a + 0.3 ) ) );
 
         if( l.a == l.b )
         {
@@ -170,9 +171,13 @@ void RATSNEST_VIEW_ITEM::ViewDraw( int aLayer, KIGFX::VIEW* aView ) const
         if( color == COLOR4D::UNSPECIFIED )
             color = defaultColor;
 
+        if( dimStatic )
+            color = color.WithAlpha( std::max( 0.0, color.a / 2 ) );
+
         // Draw the "static" ratsnest
         if( highlightedNets.count( i ) )
-            gal->SetStrokeColor( color.Brightened( 0.8 ) );
+            gal->SetStrokeColor(
+                    color.Brightened( 0.8 ).WithAlpha( std::min( 1.0, color.a + 0.4 ) ) );
         else
             gal->SetStrokeColor( color );  // using the default ratsnest color for not highlighted