Material:
Any material is fine when it comes to an indoor dining table, but different materials will create varying vibes. If you have a contemporary dining room, a dining table with a marble or glass top will help to create a modern look. Alternatively, a wooden table with all of its original knots and grains is perfect for a cozy cottage feel. However, if your table is for outside use, mahogany and teak are two of the best material options. Both of these woods have a gorgeous natural finish as well as being more weather resistant than manufactured or other solid woods. If you're looking for softwood, which is often slightly cheaper, redwood and cedar are great choices that will hold up well in most weather conditions.
Style of Dining Table:
A dining table for 12 people will cover a lot of ground, so it's important to make sure you have the space to accommodate a large table. Rodney Lawrence recommends leaving 20 inches between your walls and dining table for a well-spaced-out look. Of course, this will vary depending on the size of your dining room, but a table too close to the walls will make fitting dining chairs around it awkward. A solution to this is to buy an extendable dining table, so you only have to navigate a smaller space when absolutely necessary. In terms of shape, the majority of dining tables for 12 will feature a rectangular shape, so it's more important to have a wide dining room than a narrow one.
Style of Dining Chairs:
Per Frances Merrill, combining style and function is the key to successful dining chairs, as well as matching them to your dining table. It can be tricky trying to find dining chairs that fit the above criteria, so we recommend focusing more on style than exact coloring for an easier experience. For example, if your 12 person dining table has a whitewashed finish with hints of light brown in, look for two-tone chairs that can pick out both colors. Dining tables with glass tops are incredibly versatile, as clear glass can be paired with pretty much any chair color. A popular current trend is to infuse color into your dining room with chairs in different hues of the same color -- i.e. shades of blue.
Leg Details:
The legs of a dining table can help to give off a particular vibe or style. When searching for 12 person dining tables, looking out for the style of legs can give you inspiration on how to pull your dining room together. Darryl Carter states that traditional, colonial-era furniture is making a comeback, which includes spindle and turned legs. Not just reserved for shorter tables, these legs will help to create an antique look in a taller one, too. Mid-century modern furniture is also still having a moment, and tapered legs in general will never go out of style. If you want a modern look, slim block legs are smooth and perfect for a clean-lined and minimalist dining room.