diff --git a/src/pages/AboutPage.vue b/src/pages/AboutPage.vue
index f013426e..b36bf2f8 100644
--- a/src/pages/AboutPage.vue
+++ b/src/pages/AboutPage.vue
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ import WidgetSocialPartial from '@partials/WidgetSocialPartial.vue';
 import WidgetSkillsPartial from '@partials/WidgetSkillsPartial.vue';
 import WidgetSkillsSkeletonPartial from '@partials/WidgetSkillsSkeletonPartial.vue';
 import AboutConnectSkeletonPartial from '@partials/AboutConnectSkeletonPartial.vue';
-import CoverImageLoader from '@/components/CoverImageLoader.vue';
+import CoverImageLoader from '@/partials/CoverImageLoader.vue';
 import { useSeo, SITE_NAME, ABOUT_IMAGE, siteUrlFor, buildKeywords, PERSON_JSON_LD } from '@/support/seo';
 
 import { useApiStore } from '@api/store.ts';
diff --git a/src/pages/PostPage.vue b/src/pages/PostPage.vue
index aef997c2..6a112814 100644
--- a/src/pages/PostPage.vue
+++ b/src/pages/PostPage.vue
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ import { siteUrlFor, useSeoFromPost } from '@/support/seo';
 import WidgetSponsorPartial from '@partials/WidgetSponsorPartial.vue';
 import { onMounted, ref, computed, watch, nextTick, watchEffect } from 'vue';
 import { initializeHighlighter, renderMarkdown } from '@/support/markdown.ts';
-import CoverImageLoader from '@/components/CoverImageLoader.vue';
+import CoverImageLoader from '@/partials/CoverImageLoader.vue';
 
 // --- Component
 const route = useRoute();
diff --git a/src/partials/ArticleItemPartial.vue b/src/partials/ArticleItemPartial.vue
index abfb07d8..73162f6e 100644
--- a/src/partials/ArticleItemPartial.vue
+++ b/src/partials/ArticleItemPartial.vue
@@ -1,41 +1,33 @@
 <template>
 	<article v-if="item" class="py-5 border-b border-slate-100 dark:border-slate-800">
 		<div class="flex items-start">
-			<router-link
-				v-lazy-link
-				class="relative block aspect-square w-20 sm:w-28 mr-4 sm:mr-6 overflow-hidden rounded-lg bg-slate-200/80 dark:bg-slate-800/80 flex-shrink-0 cursor-pointer shadow-sm ring-1 ring-inset ring-slate-200/70 dark:ring-slate-700/70"
-				:class="isImageError ? 'animate-none' : showSkeleton ? 'animate-pulse' : 'animate-none'"
-				:to="{ name: 'PostDetail', params: { slug: item.slug } }"
-			>
-				<img
-					v-if="!isImageError"
-					class="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover transition-opacity duration-300"
-					:class="isImageLoaded ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0'"
+			<router-link v-lazy-link class="relative block mr-4 sm:mr-6 flex-shrink-0 cursor-pointer" :to="{ name: 'PostDetail', params: { slug: item.slug } }">
+				<CoverImageLoader
+					class="block aspect-square w-20 sm:w-28 overflow-hidden rounded-lg bg-slate-200/80 dark:bg-slate-800/80 shadow-sm ring-1 ring-inset ring-slate-200/70 dark:ring-slate-700/70"
 					:src="item.cover_image_url"
-					width="112"
-					height="112"
 					:alt="item.title"
-					decoding="async"
+					:width="112"
+					:height="112"
 					loading="lazy"
-					@load="handleImageLoad"
-					@error="handleImageError"
-				/>
-				<div v-if="showSkeleton" class="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
-					<svg
-						v-if="isImageError"
-						class="w-6 h-6 text-slate-400 dark:text-slate-600"
-						xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-						fill="none"
-						viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-						stroke-width="1.5"
-						stroke="currentColor"
-					>
-						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M3 4.5A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 4.5 3h15A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 21 4.5v15a1.5 1.5 0 0 1-1.5 1.5h-15A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 3 19.5v-15Z" />
-						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="m3 14.25 3.955-3.955a2.25 2.25 0 0 1 3.182 0L15 15.75" />
-						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="m13.5 12 1.955-1.955a2.25 2.25 0 0 1 3.182 0L21 13.5" />
-						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M8.25 8.25h.008v.008H8.25z" />
-					</svg>
-				</div>
+					fetchpriority="low"
+				>
+					<template #skeleton="{ isError }">
+						<svg
+							v-if="isError"
+							class="w-6 h-6 text-slate-400 dark:text-slate-600"
+							xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+							fill="none"
+							viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+							stroke-width="1.5"
+							stroke="currentColor"
+						>
+							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M3 4.5A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 4.5 3h15A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 21 4.5v15a1.5 1.5 0 0 1-1.5 1.5h-15A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 3 19.5v-15Z" />
+							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="m3 14.25 3.955-3.955a2.25 2.25 0 0 1 3.182 0L15 15.75" />
+							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="m13.5 12 1.955-1.955a2.25 2.25 0 0 1 3.182 0L21 13.5" />
+							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M8.25 8.25h.008v.008H8.25z" />
+						</svg>
+					</template>
+				</CoverImageLoader>
 			</router-link>
 			<div>
 				<div class="text-xs text-slate-700 uppercase mb-1 dark:text-slate-500">
@@ -71,40 +63,11 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import CoverImageLoader from '@/partials/CoverImageLoader.vue';
 import { date } from '@/public.ts';
-import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue';
 import type { PostResponse } from '@api/response/index.ts';
 
 const props = defineProps<{
 	item: PostResponse;
 }>();
-
-type ImageStatus = 'loading' | 'loaded' | 'error';
-
-const imageStatus = ref<ImageStatus>('loading');
-
-const handleImageLoad = () => {
-	imageStatus.value = 'loaded';
-};
-
-const handleImageError = () => {
-	imageStatus.value = 'error';
-};
-
-const isImageError = computed(() => imageStatus.value === 'error');
-const isImageLoaded = computed(() => imageStatus.value === 'loaded');
-const showSkeleton = computed(() => imageStatus.value !== 'loaded');
-
-watch(
-	() => props.item?.cover_image_url,
-	(newSrc) => {
-		if (!newSrc) {
-			imageStatus.value = 'error';
-			return;
-		}
-
-		imageStatus.value = 'loading';
-	},
-	{ immediate: true },
-);
 </script>
diff --git a/src/partials/ArticlesListPartial.vue b/src/partials/ArticlesListPartial.vue
index 5141bc52..39019414 100644
--- a/src/partials/ArticlesListPartial.vue
+++ b/src/partials/ArticlesListPartial.vue
@@ -21,13 +21,15 @@
 		</ul>
 
 		<!-- Articles list -->
-		<div v-if="isLoading" aria-busy="true">
-			<ArticleItemSkeletonPartial v-for="skeleton in skeletonCount" :key="`article-skeleton-${skeleton}`" />
+		<div class="min-h-[24rem]">
+			<div v-if="isLoading" aria-busy="true">
+				<ArticleItemSkeletonPartial v-for="skeleton in skeletonCount" :key="`article-skeleton-${skeleton}`" />
+			</div>
+			<div v-else-if="items.length > 0">
+				<ArticleItemPartial v-for="item in items" :key="item.uuid" :item="item" />
+			</div>
+			<p v-else class="text-slate-500 dark:text-slate-400 py-8">No articles found.</p>
 		</div>
-		<div v-else-if="items.length > 0">
-			<ArticleItemPartial v-for="item in items" :key="item.uuid" :item="item" />
-		</div>
-		<p v-else class="text-slate-500 dark:text-slate-400 py-8">No articles found.</p>
 	</section>
 </template>
 
diff --git a/src/components/CoverImageLoader.vue b/src/partials/CoverImageLoader.vue
similarity index 87%
rename from src/components/CoverImageLoader.vue
rename to src/partials/CoverImageLoader.vue
index 4c230ddf..7b409b9d 100644
--- a/src/components/CoverImageLoader.vue
+++ b/src/partials/CoverImageLoader.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 <template>
 	<div class="relative overflow-hidden rounded-2xl bg-slate-200/80 dark:bg-slate-800/80 shadow-sm ring-1 ring-inset ring-slate-200/70 dark:ring-slate-700/70" :class="[animationClass]">
 		<img
-			v-if="!isError && hasSource"
+			v-if="!isError"
 			class="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover transition-opacity duration-300"
 			:class="isLoaded ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0'"
-			:src="src"
+			:src="resolvedSrc"
 			:alt="alt"
 			:width="width"
 			:height="height"
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue';
 
+const placeholderCoverImage =
+	'data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="120" height="120" fill="none"%3E%3Crect width="120" height="120" rx="24" fill="%23e5e7eb" /%3E%3C/svg%3E';
+
 const props = withDefaults(
 	defineProps<{
 		src?: string;
@@ -56,7 +59,13 @@ type ImageStatus = 'loading' | 'loaded' | 'error';
 
 const imageStatus = ref<ImageStatus>('loading');
 
-const hasSource = computed(() => Boolean(props.src));
+const resolvedSrc = computed(() => {
+	if (!props.src) {
+		return placeholderCoverImage;
+	}
+
+	return props.src;
+});
 
 const isLoaded = computed(() => imageStatus.value === 'loaded');
 const isError = computed(() => imageStatus.value === 'error');
@@ -84,7 +93,7 @@ watch(
 	() => props.src,
 	(newSrc, oldSrc) => {
 		if (!newSrc) {
-			imageStatus.value = 'error';
+			imageStatus.value = 'loaded';
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/tests/components/CoverImageLoader.test.ts b/tests/components/CoverImageLoader.test.ts
index a9e00ff5..0524b106 100644
--- a/tests/components/CoverImageLoader.test.ts
+++ b/tests/components/CoverImageLoader.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
 import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
-import CoverImageLoader from '@/components/CoverImageLoader.vue';
+import CoverImageLoader from '@/partials/CoverImageLoader.vue';
 
 describe('CoverImageLoader', () => {
 	it('shows skeleton until the image loads', async () => {
@@ -44,4 +44,22 @@ describe('CoverImageLoader', () => {
 		expect(wrapper.find('svg').exists()).toBe(true);
 		expect(wrapper.find('.absolute.inset-0.flex').exists()).toBe(true);
 	});
+
+	it('renders the built-in placeholder when no source is provided', () => {
+		const wrapper = mount(CoverImageLoader, {
+			props: {
+				alt: 'Placeholder image',
+			},
+		});
+
+		const container = wrapper.find('div.relative');
+		expect(container.classes()).not.toContain('animate-pulse');
+
+		const image = wrapper.find('img');
+		expect(image.exists()).toBe(true);
+		expect(image.attributes('src')).toContain('data:image/svg+xml');
+		expect(image.classes()).toContain('opacity-100');
+
+		expect(wrapper.find('.absolute.inset-0.flex').exists()).toBe(false);
+	});
 });
diff --git a/tests/partials/ArticleItemPartial.test.ts b/tests/partials/ArticleItemPartial.test.ts
index 91b44211..c6a708b1 100644
--- a/tests/partials/ArticleItemPartial.test.ts
+++ b/tests/partials/ArticleItemPartial.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
 import { faker } from '@faker-js/faker';
 import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';
 import ArticleItemPartial from '@partials/ArticleItemPartial.vue';
+import CoverImageLoader from '@partials/CoverImageLoader.vue';
 import type { PostResponse } from '@api/response/index.ts';
 
 vi.mock('@/public.ts', () => ({
@@ -40,6 +41,30 @@ describe('ArticleItemPartial', () => {
 		});
 		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('formatted');
 		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain(item.title);
-		expect(wrapper.find('img').attributes('src')).toBe(item.cover_image_url);
+
+		const coverLoader = wrapper.findComponent(CoverImageLoader);
+		expect(coverLoader.exists()).toBe(true);
+		expect(coverLoader.props('src')).toBe(item.cover_image_url);
+		expect(coverLoader.props('alt')).toBe(item.title);
+	});
+
+	it('relies on the cover loader placeholder when no image url is provided', () => {
+		const wrapper = mount(ArticleItemPartial, {
+			props: {
+				item: {
+					...item,
+					cover_image_url: undefined as unknown as string,
+				} as PostResponse,
+			},
+			global: { stubs: { RouterLink: { template: '<a><slot /></a>' } } },
+		});
+
+		const coverLoader = wrapper.findComponent(CoverImageLoader);
+		expect(coverLoader.exists()).toBe(true);
+		expect(coverLoader.props('src')).toBe('');
+
+		const placeholderImage = coverLoader.find('img');
+		expect(placeholderImage.exists()).toBe(true);
+		expect(placeholderImage.attributes('src')).toContain('data:image/svg+xml');
 	});
 });