Material:
Having a comfortable yet easy to clean chair pad is important, especially if the padding will be used on a kitchen chair. Interior decorator Nicole Hollis says to look for durable materials such as polyester blends for the highest level of stain resistance and washability. Other materials can also be found and used such as neoprene, gel foam, memory foam, and more with a variety of different cover materials including cotton, satin, and a multitude of textile blends. Most chair pads will have a removable cover made of an easily washable material so you can toss it in the washer in case of a spill or other stain.
Comfort:
Most chair pads with ties are 1" to 2" thick, but it's not hard to find different sizes to suit your needs. Memory foam and gel foam chair pads can be up to 6 inches thick for supreme comfort and a height boost in the chair. Never-flat honeycomb style chair pads and standard cushion-like pads for wooden chairs are usually on the smaller size of the thickness scale. Comfort will depend on the chair it is being added to, as well as the material that was used in the making of the chair pad itself.
Aesthetic:
Chair pads can come in a wide range of aesthetic styles. Amy Lau says to look for a chair pad that compliments your existing decor. For example, if your kitchen or dining room has a French country style, you may want subtle beige colored pads which are on the thinner side to blend in with the existing decor. On the other hand, if you are going with a mid-century modern aesthetic in your home, a larger chair pad that stands out can be much more desirable and fitting for the overall aesthetic of the room.
Color:
Since chair pads can come in a wide range of different materials, it's not uncommon to see them in countless different colors and patterns. Some of the more commonly found colors for a chair pad with ties are beige, white, and gray, but black, red, and brighter colors are also easy to find. For patterns, you can usually find a number of different floral patterns in a pastel color palette, while crosshatch and diamond patterns are also quite popular due to their ability to fit into a wide range of existing decor styles and room aesthetics.