Stripes have always been a classic geometric pattern that function like a neutral. They come in a wide variety of widths, and they can easily be mixed with solid colors to add depth and personality to your space. Stripes can also ground other patterns from leopard to florals, when used strategically. This season though, a more organic, imperfect, and maybe even artistic version of the stripe pattern is showing up all over the place — we’re calling it scoring (or scored marks). 

Scored patterns and prints have a little bit more artistic appeal than, say, a quintessential unbroken stripe or band pattern. That’s likely because these hash or tick-like marks call to mind the scoring and slipping of pottery construction. Often almost hand-drawn in appearance, home decor items with score mark motifs fit well with the warm minimalist aesthetic, but they also carry enough geometric weight and punch to hang in more maximalist spaces, too. It all depends on what you pair them with and what color you choose; tone-on-tone versions are especially subtle, for example, if that’s more your speed. From dressers to vases, shop a few of my favorite trendy scored items for your home right here, whether you’re looking for a splurge-worthy investment piece or a cheap decorative thrill.

You might expect to see a ceramic light with a scored pattern incised into its surface, but this Urban Outfitters table lamp actually features a shade with a hash mark pattern instead. Try it bedside or next to your living room sofa for a neutral but still visually interesting touch of texture and pattern.

Buy: Blakely Table Lamp, $139.00 from Urban Outfitters

Anthropologie’sOdetta Dresser is a splurge, but the simple, tone-on-tone scoring on the drawers’ surfaces makes it a special piece. It comes in black and white as well.

Buy: Odetta Nine-Drawer Dresser, $2,498.00 from Anthropologie

A scored pattern is a perfect motif for wall paper. From a distance, thispeel and stick reads like a solid color, but when you get up close, it appears to have a handmade touch, thanks to the irregular placement of the individual tick marks. Go bold with a darker colorway or subtly glam with the gold on white design.

Buy: RoomMates Tick Mark Peel and Stick Wallpaper, Starts at $28.10 per roll from Amazon

The cool thing about scoring is the individual lines can be used to fill in a larger, overarching geometric design. Such is the case with this cozy area rug, which features a diamond and triangle motif that’s comprised of scored lines in different widths placed in alternating directions.

Buy: Trunding Area Rug, Starting at $548.10 $219.24 from Boutique Rugs

You couldn’t ask for a better example of a warm minimalist ceramic vase. Try one or a pair on a table or a mantel, filled with dry florals or not. At 12 inches and 20 inches, they’re both very substantial in size.

Buy: Lati Vases, Starting at $36.95 from Crate & Barrel

Pillow covers are the easiest ever way to jazz up an old sofa, chair, or even your top of bed. These silk covers come in a wide variety of shades and feature bands of stripes that look like score marks. I could see one pairing well with a solid color pillow in a contrasting but still textural fabric like bouclé or velvet.

Buy: Silk Mini Stripe Pillow Cover, $42.40 $31.88 from West Elm

This rough concrete candle features a variety of etched shapes. You can’t miss those score marks though — highlighted with white paint, which is applied by hand by craftspeople — before soy wax gets poured in each vessel to create a fragrant, fruity-smelling candle.

Buy: Sonora 10 oz Candle – Pepper + Pomelo, $34.00 from Paddywax