Faux Leather vs Wood Veneer Desk Sets: How They Compare
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. The Prestige line is wood veneer with faux leather components, the Vesta sets are wood and faux leather, and the 17-piece executive set and the 5-piece set are genuine leather; each product page states the material. 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 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 a wide choice of colors.
If you searched for a leather desk set, it helps to know exactly what you are comparing. Most of our sets are faux leather, and the Prestige sets pair faux leather with wood veneer. The 17-piece executive set and the 5-piece set are genuine leather, and their product pages say so.
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 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 vs wood veneer: look and feel
The table below compares the two materials in general terms, with our own catalog 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 | Most of our sets | The 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
Both materials need only light care: a soft cloth and no abrasive pads. The care notes for our own sets are on a separate page.
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 desk sets. For faux leather, including the marble-pattern Pulsar finishes, browse the faux leather desk sets and narrow the list by color or pad size.
