diff --git a/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/cntrb_file_heatmap.py b/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/cntrb_file_heatmap.py
index 081f335ea..ab3e3829f 100644
--- a/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/cntrb_file_heatmap.py
+++ b/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/cntrb_file_heatmap.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 import logging
 from dateutil.relativedelta import *  # type: ignore
-import plotly.express as px
-from pages.utils.graph_utils import get_graph_time_values, color_seq
+from pages.utils.graph_utils import create_heatmap_figure, get_graph_time_values, color_seq
 from queries.contributors_query import contributors_query as cnq
 from queries.cntrb_per_file_query import cntrb_per_file_query as cpfq
 from queries.repo_files_query import repo_files_query as rfq
@@ -332,18 +331,7 @@ def process_data(
 
 
 def create_figure(df: pd.DataFrame):
-    fig = px.imshow(
-        df,
-        labels=dict(x="Time", y="Directory Entries", color="Contributors"),
-        color_continuous_scale=px.colors.sequential.deep,
-    )
-
-    fig["layout"]["yaxis"]["tickmode"] = "linear"
-    fig["layout"]["height"] = 700
-    fig["layout"]["coloraxis_colorbar_x"] = -0.15
-    fig["layout"]["yaxis"]["side"] = "right"
-
-    return fig
+    return create_heatmap_figure(df, color_label="Contributors")
 
 
 def df_file_clean(df_file: pd.DataFrame, df_file_cntbs: pd.DataFrame, bot_switch):
diff --git a/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/contribution_file_heatmap.py b/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/contribution_file_heatmap.py
index 59a86caa2..c6eb2caa1 100644
--- a/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/contribution_file_heatmap.py
+++ b/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/contribution_file_heatmap.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 import logging
 from dateutil.relativedelta import *  # type: ignore
-import plotly.express as px
+from pages.utils.graph_utils import create_heatmap_figure
 from queries.prs_query import prs_query as prq
 from queries.pr_files_query import pr_file_query as prfq
 from queries.repo_files_query import repo_files_query as rfq
@@ -339,22 +339,8 @@ def process_data(
 
 
 def create_figure(df: pd.DataFrame, graph_view):
-    legend_title = "PRs Opened"
-    if graph_view == "merged_at":
-        legend_title = "PRs Merged"
-
-    fig = px.imshow(
-        df,
-        labels=dict(x="Time", y="Directory Entries", color=legend_title),
-        color_continuous_scale=px.colors.sequential.deep,
-    )
-
-    fig["layout"]["yaxis"]["tickmode"] = "linear"
-    fig["layout"]["height"] = 700
-    fig["layout"]["coloraxis_colorbar_x"] = -0.15
-    fig["layout"]["yaxis"]["side"] = "right"
-
-    return fig
+    color_label = "PRs Merged" if graph_view == "merged_at" else "PRs Opened"
+    return create_heatmap_figure(df, color_label=color_label)
 
 
 def df_file_clean(df_file: pd.DataFrame, df_file_pr: pd.DataFrame):
diff --git a/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/reviewer_file_heatmap.py b/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/reviewer_file_heatmap.py
index 9020eba30..dff17034a 100644
--- a/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/reviewer_file_heatmap.py
+++ b/8Knot/pages/codebase/visualizations/reviewer_file_heatmap.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 import logging
 from dateutil.relativedelta import *  # type: ignore
-import plotly.express as px
-from pages.utils.graph_utils import get_graph_time_values, color_seq
+from pages.utils.graph_utils import create_heatmap_figure, get_graph_time_values, color_seq
 from queries.contributors_query import contributors_query as cnq
 from queries.cntrb_per_file_query import cntrb_per_file_query as cpfq
 from queries.repo_files_query import repo_files_query as rfq
@@ -332,18 +331,7 @@ def process_data(
 
 
 def create_figure(df: pd.DataFrame):
-    fig = px.imshow(
-        df,
-        labels=dict(x="Time", y="Directory Entries", color="Contributors"),
-        color_continuous_scale=px.colors.sequential.deep,
-    )
-
-    fig["layout"]["yaxis"]["tickmode"] = "linear"
-    fig["layout"]["height"] = 700
-    fig["layout"]["coloraxis_colorbar_x"] = -0.15
-    fig["layout"]["yaxis"]["side"] = "right"
-
-    return fig
+    return create_heatmap_figure(df, color_label="Contributors")
 
 
 def df_file_clean(df_file: pd.DataFrame, df_file_cntbs: pd.DataFrame, bot_switch):
diff --git a/8Knot/pages/utils/graph_utils.py b/8Knot/pages/utils/graph_utils.py
index 6eb32b3c9..4f7460069 100644
--- a/8Knot/pages/utils/graph_utils.py
+++ b/8Knot/pages/utils/graph_utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import datetime as dt
+import pandas as pd
+import plotly.express as px
 
 # list of graph color hex
 color_seq = [
@@ -25,6 +27,38 @@
     "#B54708",  # Yellow 700 - dark yellow
 ]
 
+# Sequential color scale for heatmaps (light -> dark blue, matches app theme)
+heatmap_color_scale = [baby_blue[0], baby_blue[2], baby_blue[4], baby_blue[6], baby_blue[8]]
+
+
+def create_heatmap_figure(
+    df: pd.DataFrame,
+    color_label: str,
+    x_label: str = "Time",
+    y_label: str = "Directory Entries",
+):
+
+    fig = px.imshow(
+        df,
+        labels=dict(x=x_label, y=y_label, color=color_label),
+        color_continuous_scale=heatmap_color_scale,
+    )
+    fig.update_layout(
+        height=700,
+        font=dict(size=14),
+        xaxis_title=x_label,
+        yaxis_title=y_label,
+        yaxis=dict(tickmode="linear", side="right"),
+        coloraxis_colorbar_x=-0.15,
+        coloraxis=dict(
+            colorbar=dict(
+                tickfont=dict(color="white"),
+                title=dict(font=dict(color="white")),
+            )
+        ),
+    )
+    return fig
+
 
 def get_graph_time_values(interval):
     """