diff --git a/src/textual/strip.py b/src/textual/strip.py
index d6706cad03..d11f6ee242 100644
--- a/src/textual/strip.py
+++ b/src/textual/strip.py
@@ -570,3 +570,15 @@ def render(self, console: Console) -> str:
                 ]
             )
         return self._render_cache
+
+    def crop_pad(self, cell_length: int, left: int, right: int, style: Style) -> Strip:
+        if cell_length != self.cell_length:
+            strip = self.adjust_cell_length(cell_length, style)
+        if not (left or right):
+            return strip
+        segments = self._segments.copy()
+        if left:
+            segments.insert(0, Segment(" " * left, style))
+        if right:
+            segments.append(Segment(" " * right, style))
+        return Strip(segments, cell_length + left + right)
diff --git a/src/textual/visual.py b/src/textual/visual.py
index d13fe00f8c..3fe7f63494 100644
--- a/src/textual/visual.py
+++ b/src/textual/visual.py
@@ -245,8 +245,6 @@ def to_strips(
         height: int,
         widget: Widget,
         component_classes: list[str] | None = None,
-        padding: Spacing = Spacing(),
-        padding_style: RichStyle = RichStyle(),
     ) -> list[Strip]:
         styles: Styles
         if component_classes:
@@ -256,24 +254,7 @@ def to_strips(
         else:
             styles = widget.styles
 
-        strips = visual.render_strips(
-            width - padding.width, height - padding.height, widget.visual_style, styles
-        )
-
-        if padding:
-            top_padding = (
-                [Strip.blank(width, padding_style)] * padding.top if padding.top else []
-            )
-            bottom_padding = (
-                [Strip.blank(width, padding_style)] * padding.bottom
-                if padding.bottom
-                else []
-            )
-            strips = [
-                *top_padding,
-                *Strip.align(strips, padding_style, width, height, "ce"),
-                *bottom_padding,
-            ]
+        strips = visual.render_strips(width, height, widget.visual_style, styles)
 
         return strips
 
@@ -351,3 +332,48 @@ def render_strips(
             )
         ]
         return strips
+
+
+class Padding(Visual):
+    def __init__(self, visual: Visual, spacing: Spacing):
+        self._visual = visual
+        self._spacing = spacing
+
+    def get_optimal_width(self, tab_size: int = 8) -> int:
+        return self._visual.get_optimal_width(tab_size) + self._spacing.width
+
+    def get_minimal_width(self, tab_size: int = 8) -> int:
+        return self._visual.get_minimal_width(tab_size) + self._spacing.width
+
+    def get_height(self, width: int) -> int:
+        return self._visual.get_height(width) + self._spacing.height
+
+    def render_strips(
+        self,
+        width: int,
+        height: int | None,
+        base_style: Style,
+        styles: Styles,
+    ) -> list[Strip]:
+        padding = self._spacing
+        top, right, bottom, left = self._spacing
+        render_width = width - (left + right)
+        strips = self._visual.render_strips(
+            render_width,
+            None if height is None else height - padding.height,
+            base_style,
+            styles,
+        )
+        rich_style = base_style.rich_style
+        if padding:
+            top_padding = [Strip.blank(width, rich_style)] * top if top else []
+            bottom_padding = [Strip.blank(width, rich_style)] * bottom if bottom else []
+            strips = [
+                *top_padding,
+                *[
+                    strip.crop_pad(render_width, left, right, rich_style)
+                    for strip in strips
+                ],
+                *bottom_padding,
+            ]
+        return strips
diff --git a/src/textual/widgets/_option_list.py b/src/textual/widgets/_option_list.py
index e63e191701..31e39aed49 100644
--- a/src/textual/widgets/_option_list.py
+++ b/src/textual/widgets/_option_list.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 from textual.reactive import reactive
 from textual.scroll_view import ScrollView
 from textual.strip import Strip
-from textual.visual import Visual, visualize
+from textual.visual import Padding, Visual, visualize
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing_extensions import Self, TypeAlias
@@ -478,6 +478,10 @@ def _render_option_content(
         #     return strips
 
         visual = visualize(self, content)
+        padding = self.get_component_styles("option-list--option").padding
+        if padding:
+            self.notify(str(padding))
+            visual = Padding(visual, padding)
 
         strips = Visual.to_strips(
             visual,
@@ -485,7 +489,6 @@ def _render_option_content(
             2,
             self,
             component_classes=[component_class] if component_class else None,
-            padding=self.get_component_styles("option-list--option").padding,
         )
 
         # padding = self.get_component_styles("option-list--option").padding