diff --git a/frontend/src/core/components/SearchBar.tsx b/frontend/src/core/components/SearchBar.tsx
index 8616475..5c59b09 100644
--- a/frontend/src/core/components/SearchBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/core/components/SearchBar.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import styles from "./css/searchBar.module.scss";
-import { MaterialIcon } from "@/utils/material";
+import { MaterialIcon, type MDUIBottomAppBar } from "@/utils/material";
 
 interface SearchBarProps {
     placeholder: string;
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ interface SearchBarProps {
     onToggleExpanded: () => void;
     leftIcon?: string | React.ReactNode;
     rightIcon?: string | React.ReactNode;
+    containerRef: React.RefObject<HTMLElement | null>;
+    headerRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLElement | null>;
+    bottomAppBarRef?: React.RefObject<MDUIBottomAppBar | null>;
 }
 
 export default function SearchBar({
@@ -21,9 +24,14 @@ export default function SearchBar({
     isExpanded,
     onToggleExpanded,
     leftIcon = "search--outlined",
-    rightIcon = null
+    rightIcon = null,
+    containerRef,
+    headerRef,
+    bottomAppBarRef
 }: SearchBarProps) {
     const [dynamicHeight, setDynamicHeight] = useState<string>("48px");
+    const [isTransitioning, setIsTransitioning] = useState(false);
+    const [showResults, setShowResults] = useState(false);
     const searchContainerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
     const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
     const parentContainerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
@@ -33,17 +41,46 @@ export default function SearchBar({
     useEffect(() => {
         if (isExpanded && inputRef.current) {
             inputRef.current.focus();
-            // Set expanded height
-            const leftPanel = document.getElementById('chat-list');
-            if (leftPanel) {
-                const panelHeight = leftPanel.offsetHeight;
-                setDynamicHeight(`${panelHeight}px`);
+            // Set expanded height, subtracting both header and bottom app bar heights
+            if (containerRef.current) {
+                const panelHeight = containerRef.current.offsetHeight;
+                let headerHeight = 0;
+                let bottomBarHeight = 0;
+                
+                // Get header height
+                if (headerRef?.current) {
+                    headerHeight = headerRef.current.offsetHeight;
+                }
+                
+                // Get bottom app bar height
+                if (bottomAppBarRef?.current) {
+                    bottomBarHeight = bottomAppBarRef.current.offsetHeight;
+                }
+                
+                // Calculate height by subtracting both header and bottom bar heights
+                const availableHeight = panelHeight - headerHeight - bottomBarHeight;
+                setDynamicHeight(`${availableHeight}px`);
             }
         } else {
             // Set collapsed height
             setDynamicHeight("48px");
         }
-    }, [isExpanded]);
+        
+        // Show/hide results and disable overflow during transition
+        if (isExpanded) {
+            setShowResults(true);
+        }
+        
+        setIsTransitioning(true);
+        const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+            setIsTransitioning(false);
+            if (!isExpanded) {
+                setShowResults(false);
+            }
+        }, 400); // Match transition duration (0.4s)
+        
+        return () => clearTimeout(timeout);
+    }, [isExpanded, containerRef, headerRef, bottomAppBarRef]);
 
     function handleToggle() {
         onToggleExpanded();
@@ -107,9 +144,12 @@ export default function SearchBar({
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
-                {/* Results Section - Only visible when expanded */}
-                {isExpanded && (
-                    <div className={styles.searchResults}>
+                {/* Results Section - Visible during expansion and collapse transition */}
+                {showResults && (
+                    <div 
+                        className={styles.searchResults}
+                        style={{ overflowY: isTransitioning ? "hidden" : "auto" }}
+                    >
                         {children}
                     </div>
                 )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/core/components/css/searchBar.module.scss b/frontend/src/core/components/css/searchBar.module.scss
index a63d859..7f6f049 100644
--- a/frontend/src/core/components/css/searchBar.module.scss
+++ b/frontend/src/core/components/css/searchBar.module.scss
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ $font-size: 16px;
         top: 0;
         left: 0;
         right: 0;
-        bottom: 0;
+        // bottom will be set dynamically by React to account for bottom app bar
         border-radius: 0;
         background-color: $color-dark-surface-container;
         // Height will be set dynamically by React
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/chat/css/left-panel.module.scss b/frontend/src/pages/chat/css/left-panel.module.scss
index 0cf9e9c..375f340 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/chat/css/left-panel.module.scss
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/chat/css/left-panel.module.scss
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@
             padding: 32px;
             color: $color-dark-on-surface-variant;
             text-align: center;
+            overflow: hidden;
         }
 
         // Custom styling for search result images
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/ChatHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/ChatHeader.tsx
index cfb4f14..67c476d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/ChatHeader.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/ChatHeader.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { MinimizedCallBar } from "@/pages/chat/ui/right/calls/MinimizedCallBar";
 import styles from "@/pages/chat/css/left-panel.module.scss";
 import logoIcon from "@/images/logo.svg";
 
-export function ChatHeader() {
+export function ChatHeader({ headerRef }: { headerRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLElement | null> }) {
     const { profileData } = useProfile();
     const { setProfileDialog, user } = useAppState();
     const [profilePictureUrl, setProfilePictureUrl] = useState(profileData?.profile_picture || defaultAvatar);
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export function ChatHeader() {
 
     return (
         <>
-            <header className={styles.chatHeaderLeft}>
+            <header className={styles.chatHeaderLeft} ref={headerRef}>
                 <img src={logoIcon} alt="Logo" className={styles.logo} />
                 <div className={styles.productName}>{PRODUCT_NAME}</div>
                 <div className={styles.profile}>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/LeftPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/LeftPanel.tsx
index 7fdce4b..3287784 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/LeftPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/LeftPanel.tsx
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 import { useAppState } from "@/pages/chat/state";
-import { useState } from "react";
+import { useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { SettingsDialog } from "./settings/SettingsDialog";
 import { UsernameSearch } from "./UsernameSearch";
 import { UnifiedChatsList } from "./UnifiedChatsList";
 import { ChatHeader } from "./ChatHeader";
-import { MaterialBottomAppBar, MaterialFab, MaterialIconButton } from "@/utils/material";
+import { MaterialBottomAppBar, MaterialFab, MaterialIconButton, type MDUIBottomAppBar } from "@/utils/material";
 import styles from "@/pages/chat/css/left-panel.module.scss";
 
-function BottomAppBar() {
+function BottomAppBar({ bottomAppBarRef }: { bottomAppBarRef?: React.RefObject<MDUIBottomAppBar | null> }) {
     const [settingsOpen, onSettingsOpenChange] = useState(false);
     const { logout } = useAppState();
 
     return (
         <>
-            <MaterialBottomAppBar>
+            <MaterialBottomAppBar ref={bottomAppBarRef}>
                 <MaterialIconButton icon="settings--filled" id="settings-open" onClick={() => onSettingsOpenChange(true)} />
                 <div style={{ flexGrow: 1 }} />
                 <MaterialIconButton
@@ -29,14 +29,18 @@ function BottomAppBar() {
 }
 
 export function LeftPanel() {
+    const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+    const headerRef = useRef<HTMLElement>(null);
+    const bottomAppBarRef = useRef<MDUIBottomAppBar>(null);
+    
     return (
-        <div className={styles.chatList}>
-            <ChatHeader />
+        <div className={styles.chatList} ref={containerRef}>
+            <ChatHeader headerRef={headerRef} />
             <div className={styles.searchContainer}>
-                <UsernameSearch />
+                <UsernameSearch containerRef={containerRef} headerRef={headerRef} bottomAppBarRef={bottomAppBarRef} />
             </div>
             <UnifiedChatsList />
-            <BottomAppBar />
+            <BottomAppBar bottomAppBarRef={bottomAppBarRef} />
         </div>
     );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/UsernameSearch.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/UsernameSearch.tsx
index b27c861..9ed8dae 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/UsernameSearch.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/chat/ui/left/UsernameSearch.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { OnlineIndicator } from "@/pages/chat/ui/right/OnlineIndicator";
 import { OnlineStatus } from "@/pages/chat/ui/right/OnlineStatus";
 import defaultAvatar from "@/images/default-avatar.png";
 import SearchBar from "@/core/components/SearchBar";
-import { MaterialCircularProgress, MaterialIconButton, MaterialList, MaterialListItem } from "@/utils/material";
+import { MaterialCircularProgress, MaterialIconButton, MaterialList, MaterialListItem, type MDUIBottomAppBar } from "@/utils/material";
 import styles from "@/pages/chat/css/left-panel.module.scss";
 
 interface SearchUser extends User {
@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@ interface SearchUser extends User {
     verified?: boolean;
 }
 
-export function UsernameSearch() {
+export interface UsernameSearchProps {
+    containerRef: React.RefObject<HTMLElement | null>;
+    headerRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLElement | null>;
+    bottomAppBarRef?: React.RefObject<MDUIBottomAppBar | null>;
+}
+
+export function UsernameSearch({ containerRef, headerRef, bottomAppBarRef }: UsernameSearchProps) {
     const { user, switchToDM, chat } = useAppState();
     const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState("");
     const [searchResults, setSearchResults] = useState<SearchUser[]>([]);
@@ -165,6 +171,9 @@ export function UsernameSearch() {
                     icon="arrow_back--outlined"
                 />
             ) : "search--outlined"}
+            containerRef={containerRef}
+            headerRef={headerRef}
+            bottomAppBarRef={bottomAppBarRef}
         >
             {isSearching && (
                 <div className={styles.searchLoading}>