diff --git a/frontend/components/LoadingIndicator/LoadingIndicatorBar.js b/frontend/components/LoadingIndicator/LoadingIndicatorBar.js
index 33c414c1..dead7652 100644
--- a/frontend/components/LoadingIndicator/LoadingIndicatorBar.js
+++ b/frontend/components/LoadingIndicator/LoadingIndicatorBar.js
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ const Container = styled.div`
   z-index: 9999;
 
   background-color: #03A9F4;
-  width: 0;
+  width: 100%;
   animation: ${loadingFrame} 4s ease-in-out infinite;
   animation-delay: 250ms;
+  margin-left: -100%;
 `;
 
 const Loader = styled.div`
diff --git a/frontend/components/LoadingListPlaceholder/LoadingListPlaceholder.js b/frontend/components/LoadingListPlaceholder/LoadingListPlaceholder.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..26bf3dbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/components/LoadingListPlaceholder/LoadingListPlaceholder.js
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+// @flow
+import React from 'react';
+import ReactCSSTransitionGroup from 'react-addons-css-transition-group';
+import styled from 'styled-components';
+import { pulsate } from 'styles/animations';
+import { color } from 'styles/constants';
+import Flex from 'components/Flex';
+
+import { randomInteger } from 'utils/random';
+
+const randomValues = Array.from(
+  new Array(5),
+  () => `${randomInteger(85, 100)}%`
+);
+
+export default (props: Object) => {
+  return (
+    <ReactCSSTransitionGroup
+      transitionName="fadeIn"
+      transitionAppear
+      transitionEnter
+      transitionLeave
+      transitionAppearTimeout={0}
+      transitionEnterTimeout={0}
+      transitionLeaveTimeout={0}
+    >
+      <Item column auto>
+        <Mask style={{ width: randomValues[0] }} header />
+        <Mask style={{ width: randomValues[1] }} />
+      </Item>
+      <Item column auto>
+        <Mask style={{ width: randomValues[2] }} header />
+        <Mask style={{ width: randomValues[3] }} />
+      </Item>
+    </ReactCSSTransitionGroup>
+  );
+};
+
+const Item = styled(Flex)`
+  padding: 18px 0;
+`;
+
+const Mask = styled(Flex)`
+  height: ${props => (props.header ? 28 : 18)}px;
+  margin-bottom: ${props => (props.header ? 18 : 0)}px;
+  background-color: ${color.smoke};
+  animation: ${pulsate} 1.3s infinite;
+`;
diff --git a/frontend/components/LoadingListPlaceholder/index.js b/frontend/components/LoadingListPlaceholder/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17588c5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/components/LoadingListPlaceholder/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+// @flow
+import LoadingListPlaceholder from './LoadingListPlaceholder';
+export default LoadingListPlaceholder;
diff --git a/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/ListPlaceholder.js b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/ListPlaceholder.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bf26f0f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/ListPlaceholder.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// @flow
+import React from 'react';
+import ReactCSSTransitionGroup from 'react-addons-css-transition-group';
+import styled from 'styled-components';
+import Mask from './components/Mask';
+import Flex from 'components/Flex';
+
+export default (props: Object) => {
+  return (
+    <ReactCSSTransitionGroup
+      transitionName="fadeIn"
+      transitionAppearTimeout={0}
+      transitionEnterTimeout={0}
+      transitionLeaveTimeout={0}
+      transitionAppear
+      transitionEnter
+      transitionLeave
+    >
+      <Item column auto>
+        <Mask header />
+        <Mask />
+      </Item>
+      <Item column auto>
+        <Mask header />
+        <Mask />
+      </Item>
+    </ReactCSSTransitionGroup>
+  );
+};
+
+const Item = styled(Flex)`
+  padding: 18px 0;
+`;
diff --git a/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/LoadingPlaceholder.js b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/LoadingPlaceholder.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6f978e24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/LoadingPlaceholder.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// @flow
+import React from 'react';
+import ReactCSSTransitionGroup from 'react-addons-css-transition-group';
+import Mask from './components/Mask';
+import Flex from 'components/Flex';
+
+export default (props: Object) => {
+  return (
+    <ReactCSSTransitionGroup
+      transitionName="fadeIn"
+      transitionAppearTimeout={0}
+      transitionEnterTimeout={0}
+      transitionLeaveTimeout={0}
+      transitionAppear
+      transitionEnter
+      transitionLeave
+    >
+      <Flex column auto {...props}>
+        <Mask header />
+        <Mask />
+        <Mask />
+        <Mask />
+      </Flex>
+    </ReactCSSTransitionGroup>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/components/Mask.js b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/components/Mask.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a49810e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/components/Mask.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+// @flow
+import React, { Component } from 'react';
+import styled from 'styled-components';
+import { pulsate } from 'styles/animations';
+import { color } from 'styles/constants';
+import { randomInteger } from 'utils/random';
+import Flex from 'components/Flex';
+
+class Mask extends Component {
+  width: number;
+
+  shouldComponentUpdate() {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  constructor(props: Object) {
+    super(props);
+    this.width = randomInteger(75, 100);
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    return <Redacted width={this.width} {...this.props} />;
+  }
+}
+
+const Redacted = styled(Flex)`
+  width: ${props => (props.header ? props.width / 2 : props.width)}%;
+  height: ${props => (props.header ? 28 : 18)}px;
+  margin-bottom: ${props => (props.header ? 18 : 12)}px;
+  background-color: ${color.smokeDark};
+  animation: ${pulsate} 1.3s infinite;
+
+  &:last-child {
+    margin-bottom: 0;
+  }
+`;
+
+export default Mask;
diff --git a/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/index.js b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62e7311e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/components/LoadingPlaceholder/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// @flow
+import LoadingPlaceholder from './LoadingPlaceholder';
+import ListPlaceholder from './ListPlaceholder';
+
+export default LoadingPlaceholder;
+export { ListPlaceholder };
diff --git a/frontend/components/PreviewLoading/index.js b/frontend/components/PreviewLoading/index.js
deleted file mode 100644
index e02fd34c..00000000
--- a/frontend/components/PreviewLoading/index.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-// @flow
-import PreviewLoading from './PreviewLoading';
-export default PreviewLoading;
diff --git a/frontend/scenes/Collection/Collection.js b/frontend/scenes/Collection/Collection.js
index cd00815c..7a47bbdb 100644
--- a/frontend/scenes/Collection/Collection.js
+++ b/frontend/scenes/Collection/Collection.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import CollectionsStore from 'stores/CollectionsStore';
 import CollectionStore from './CollectionStore';
 
 import CenteredContent from 'components/CenteredContent';
-import PreviewLoading from 'components/PreviewLoading';
+import LoadingListPlaceholder from 'components/LoadingListPlaceholder';
 
 type Props = {
   collections: CollectionsStore,
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type Props = {
     return this.store.redirectUrl
       ? <Redirect to={this.store.redirectUrl} />
       : <CenteredContent>
-          <PreviewLoading />
+          <LoadingListPlaceholder />
         </CenteredContent>;
   }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/scenes/Dashboard/Dashboard.js b/frontend/scenes/Dashboard/Dashboard.js
index 077b4b4f..da95a0f2 100644
--- a/frontend/scenes/Dashboard/Dashboard.js
+++ b/frontend/scenes/Dashboard/Dashboard.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import DocumentsStore from 'stores/DocumentsStore';
 import DocumentList from 'components/DocumentList';
 import PageTitle from 'components/PageTitle';
 import CenteredContent from 'components/CenteredContent';
+import { ListPlaceholder } from 'components/LoadingPlaceholder';
 
 const Subheading = styled.h3`
   font-size: 11px;
@@ -31,16 +32,23 @@ type Props = {
     this.props.documents.fetchRecentlyViewed();
   }
 
+  get showPlaceholder() {
+    const { isLoaded, isFetching } = this.props.documents;
+    return !isLoaded && isFetching;
+  }
+
   render() {
     return (
       <CenteredContent>
         <PageTitle title="Home" />
         <h1>Home</h1>
         <Subheading>Recently viewed</Subheading>
+        {this.showPlaceholder && <ListPlaceholder />}
         <DocumentList documents={this.props.documents.recentlyViewed} />
 
         <Subheading>Recently edited</Subheading>
         <DocumentList documents={this.props.documents.recentlyEdited} />
+        {this.showPlaceholder && <ListPlaceholder />}
       </CenteredContent>
     );
   }
diff --git a/frontend/scenes/Document/Document.js b/frontend/scenes/Document/Document.js
index 7a2f0980..1b369a0b 100644
--- a/frontend/scenes/Document/Document.js
+++ b/frontend/scenes/Document/Document.js
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ import Document from 'models/Document';
 import UiStore from 'stores/UiStore';
 import DocumentsStore from 'stores/DocumentsStore';
 import Menu from './components/Menu';
+import LoadingPlaceholder from 'components/LoadingPlaceholder';
 import Editor from 'components/Editor';
 import DropToImport from 'components/DropToImport';
 import { HeaderAction, SaveAction } from 'components/Layout';
 import LoadingIndicator from 'components/LoadingIndicator';
 import PublishingInfo from 'components/PublishingInfo';
-import PreviewLoading from 'components/PreviewLoading';
 import CenteredContent from 'components/CenteredContent';
 import PageTitle from 'components/PageTitle';
 
@@ -263,8 +263,8 @@ const Container = styled(Flex)`
   width: 100%;
 `;
 
-const LoadingState = styled(PreviewLoading)`
-  margin: 80px 20px;
+const LoadingState = styled(LoadingPlaceholder)`
+  margin: 90px 0;
 `;
 
 const StyledDropToImport = styled(DropToImport)`
diff --git a/frontend/components/PreviewLoading/PreviewLoading.js b/frontend/scenes/Document/components/LoadingPlaceholder/LoadingPlaceholder.js
similarity index 82%
rename from frontend/components/PreviewLoading/PreviewLoading.js
rename to frontend/scenes/Document/components/LoadingPlaceholder/LoadingPlaceholder.js
index 150e1c8e..1052f403 100644
--- a/frontend/components/PreviewLoading/PreviewLoading.js
+++ b/frontend/scenes/Document/components/LoadingPlaceholder/LoadingPlaceholder.js
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 // @flow
 import React from 'react';
 import ReactCSSTransitionGroup from 'react-addons-css-transition-group';
-import styled, { keyframes } from 'styled-components';
+import styled from 'styled-components';
+import { pulsate } from 'styles/animations';
+import { color } from 'styles/constants';
 import Flex from 'components/Flex';
 
 import { randomInteger } from 'utils/random';
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@ const randomValues = Array.from(
   () => `${randomInteger(85, 100)}%`
 );
 
-export default (props: {}) => {
+export default (props: Object) => {
   return (
     <ReactCSSTransitionGroup
       transitionName="fadeIn"
@@ -32,15 +34,9 @@ export default (props: {}) => {
   );
 };
 
-const pulsate = keyframes`
-  0%   { opacity: 1; }
-  50% { opacity: 0.5; }
-  100% { opacity: 1; }
-`;
-
 const Mask = styled(Flex)`
   height: ${props => (props.header ? 28 : 18)}px;
   margin-bottom: ${props => (props.header ? 32 : 14)}px;
-  background-color: #ddd;
+  background-color: ${color.smoke};
   animation: ${pulsate} 1.3s infinite;
 `;
diff --git a/frontend/scenes/Document/components/LoadingPlaceholder/index.js b/frontend/scenes/Document/components/LoadingPlaceholder/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fd22eb81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/scenes/Document/components/LoadingPlaceholder/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+// @flow
+import LoadingPlaceholder from './LoadingPlaceholder';
+export default LoadingPlaceholder;
diff --git a/frontend/scenes/Starred/Starred.js b/frontend/scenes/Starred/Starred.js
index a14b21e6..6704045c 100644
--- a/frontend/scenes/Starred/Starred.js
+++ b/frontend/scenes/Starred/Starred.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import React, { Component } from 'react';
 import { observer, inject } from 'mobx-react';
 import CenteredContent from 'components/CenteredContent';
+import { ListPlaceholder } from 'components/LoadingPlaceholder';
 import PageTitle from 'components/PageTitle';
 import DocumentList from 'components/DocumentList';
 import DocumentsStore from 'stores/DocumentsStore';
@@ -16,10 +17,13 @@ import DocumentsStore from 'stores/DocumentsStore';
   }
 
   render() {
+    const { isLoaded, isFetching } = this.props.documents;
+
     return (
       <CenteredContent column auto>
         <PageTitle title="Starred" />
         <h1>Starred</h1>
+        {!isLoaded && isFetching && <ListPlaceholder />}
         <DocumentList documents={this.props.documents.starred} />
       </CenteredContent>
     );
diff --git a/frontend/stores/DocumentsStore.js b/frontend/stores/DocumentsStore.js
index 649f66ad..46a7b84c 100644
--- a/frontend/stores/DocumentsStore.js
+++ b/frontend/stores/DocumentsStore.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class DocumentsStore {
   @observable recentlyViewedIds: Array<string> = [];
   @observable data: Map<string, Document> = new ObservableMap([]);
   @observable isLoaded: boolean = false;
+  @observable isFetching: boolean = false;
   errors: ErrorsStore;
 
   /* Computed */
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ class DocumentsStore {
   /* Actions */
 
   @action fetchAll = async (request: string = 'list'): Promise<*> => {
+    this.isFetching = true;
+
     try {
       const res = await client.post(`/documents.${request}`);
       invariant(res && res.data, 'Document list not available');
@@ -47,6 +50,8 @@ class DocumentsStore {
       return data;
     } catch (e) {
       this.errors.add('Failed to load documents');
+    } finally {
+      this.isFetching = false;
     }
   };
 
@@ -63,6 +68,8 @@ class DocumentsStore {
   };
 
   @action fetch = async (id: string): Promise<*> => {
+    this.isFetching = true;
+
     try {
       const res = await client.post('/documents.info', { id });
       invariant(res && res.data, 'Document not available');
@@ -77,6 +84,8 @@ class DocumentsStore {
       return document;
     } catch (e) {
       this.errors.add('Failed to load documents');
+    } finally {
+      this.isFetching = false;
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/frontend/styles/animations.js b/frontend/styles/animations.js
index bdd611fa..257528b5 100644
--- a/frontend/styles/animations.js
+++ b/frontend/styles/animations.js
@@ -12,3 +12,9 @@ export const fadeAndScaleIn = keyframes`
     transform: scale(1);
   }
 `;
+
+export const pulsate = keyframes`
+  0% { opacity: 1; }
+  50% { opacity: 0.5; }
+  100% { opacity: 1; }
+`;
diff --git a/frontend/styles/constants.js b/frontend/styles/constants.js
index 18c36877..ac4604c9 100644
--- a/frontend/styles/constants.js
+++ b/frontend/styles/constants.js
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ export const color = {
   /* Light Grays */
   smoke: '#F4F7FA',
   smokeLight: '#F9FBFC',
+  smokeDark: '#E8EBED',
 
   /* Misc */
   white: '#FFFFFF',