Faux Leather vs Wood Veneer Desk Sets: Look, Feel and Care
A faux leather desk set gives you an even, leather-like surface and a wide choice of colors, while wood veneer brings visible wood grain and a more traditional, furniture-like look. Neither is better in every case. The right choice depends on your desk, the room and how you want your workspace to feel under your hands.
Most of our range is faux leather: 148 of our 152 sets. The other four belong to the Prestige line and are wood veneer with faux leather components. Below we explain what each material is in general, how the two compare in look and feel, some general care habits and which office each one tends to suit.
What is faux leather?
Faux leather is a man-made material designed to look and feel like leather. In general, it is made by applying a polymer coating, commonly polyurethane (PU) or vinyl (PVC), to a fabric backing and then pressing a texture into the surface. The name covers a wide family of materials, so thickness, texture and finish vary from one maker to another.
Because faux leather is manufactured, it can be produced in a very wide range of colors, and it can carry printed patterns as well as plain finishes. That flexibility shows in our catalog: faux leather sets come in shades from black, brown and gray through green, burgundy and navy to pink, turquoise and cream. The Luna 4-Piece Desk Set, for example, is faux leather with velvet-lined storage interiors and comes in 10 colors.
If you searched for a leather desk set, it helps to know exactly what you are comparing. Every set in our range uses faux leather, and the four Prestige sets pair it with wood veneer.
What is wood veneer?
Wood veneer is a thin sheet of wood, sliced or peeled from a log, that is bonded to a stable base such as plywood or MDF. In general, veneer lets a maker show wood grain across a whole surface while the base keeps the piece flat and steady. Veneered furniture has a long history, and the technique is common in desks, cabinets and wall paneling.
No two sheets of veneer look exactly alike, because the grain follows the tree it came from, and veneered surfaces are usually sealed with a clear finish such as lacquer or varnish. For anyone who wants the look of a wood desk set, veneer puts wood grain on show in a thin, stable layer.
Our four Prestige sets are wood veneer with faux leather components, such as the Prestige 14-Piece Desk Set with Clock. They combine the two materials rather than choosing one, so they sit between the two sides of this comparison.
Faux leather desk set vs wood veneer: look and feel
The table below compares the two materials in general terms, with our own catalog figures in the last row.
| Aspect | Faux leather | Wood veneer |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A man-made material, usually a polymer coating on a fabric backing | A thin sheet of wood bonded to a stable base |
| Look | Even color, with plain or printed finishes | Visible wood grain that varies from sheet to sheet |
| Feel | Soft, with a slight give | Smooth, firm and hard |
| Color range | Very wide, from classic dark shades to bright ones | Set by the wood and its finish |
| Typical style | Modern, classic or playful, depending on color | Traditional, study-like, matched to wood furniture |
| General care | Wipe with a soft cloth; avoid harsh cleaners | Dust with a soft cloth; keep liquids off the finish |
| In our catalog | 148 sets | 4 Prestige sets, wood veneer with faux leather components |
The difference you notice first is under your hands. In general, a faux leather desk pad gives paper a slight cushion, which some people like for handwriting. Wood veneer feels firmer and more formal, and its grain gives the surface a natural pattern.
A note on marble-pattern faux leather
Our Pulsar line shows how flexible faux leather can be. The black Pulsar set is plain faux leather, while the other Pulsar colors have a marble-pattern faux leather finish. The marble look is a printed pattern, not stone: you get the veined appearance of marble on a faux leather surface.
A print like this suits someone who likes the look of stone on a desk but prefers a softer surface to write on. Because the finish is faux leather, the general faux leather habits below are a sensible starting point.
General care habits for each material
The habits below are general guidance for these two materials, not instructions or promises for any particular product. If you are unsure about a specific set, contact us before trying a new cleaning method.
Faux leather
- As a general rule, dust with a soft, dry cloth, and for marks use a cloth that is only slightly damp, then dry the surface.
- Wipe up spills promptly rather than leaving them to sit.
- Avoid harsh solvents, alcohol-based cleaners and abrasive pads, which can dull or wear a coated surface.
- Keep pieces away from radiators and long spells of strong direct sunlight, which can fade colors over time.
- Keep sharp tools such as scissors and letter openers off the desk pad when they are not in use.
Wood veneer
- As a general rule, dust with a soft, dry cloth, following the direction of the grain.
- Use a coaster under cups and glasses, and wipe up liquid straight away; standing water is a common cause of marks on finished wood.
- Avoid abrasive cleaners and scouring pads, which can wear through a thin finish.
- Keep veneered pieces away from direct heat and strong sunlight, since wood generally reacts to changes in heat and humidity.
- Lift pieces to move them rather than dragging them across the surface.
For both materials, the easiest habits are a quick dust at the end of the day and a coaster under every drink.
Which material suits which office?
- Choose a faux leather desk set if you want a specific color, a set that matches a modern or colorful room, or a softer writing surface. It is also the widest choice in our range, from compact four-piece sets to executive sets of ten pieces or more.
- Choose wood veneer if your desk, shelves or paneling are wood and you want the accessories to look like part of the furniture, as in a traditional study, a library-style office or a boardroom. Wood veneer desk accessories tend to suit rooms where wood is already the main material.
- Consider the light. In a dim room, a pale faux leather color can brighten the desk; in a bright room with wood furniture, the grain of veneer adds warmth.
- Think about who sees the desk. A client-facing desk may call for a classic dark color or wood tones, while a home desk can be more personal.
Color often decides the matter either way. Our guide to choosing a desk set color covers matching a set to your desk finish, floor and walls.
Frequently asked
Is a faux leather desk set the same as a leather desk set?
No. Faux leather is a man-made material designed to resemble leather, so a faux leather set has a leather-like look without being made of leather.
Are the Prestige sets all wood?
No. Prestige sets are wood veneer with faux leather components, so each one combines the two materials.
Is the marble on Pulsar made of stone?
No. On Pulsar colors other than black, the marble effect is a printed pattern on faux leather, not stone. The black Pulsar set is plain faux leather.
Browse by material
To see the wood veneer sets, open the wood veneer and faux leather filter. For faux leather, including the marble-pattern Pulsar finishes, browse all desk sets and narrow the list by color or pad size.
