DIY Leather-Covered Desk

Remove the leather from the top of the old desk by scraping it off with a paint scraper. Start from the corner of the leather and pull the leather top off. If the leather is very old, it will likely break off in chunks. Scrape until all layers of leather are gone. Brush water directly on the leather with a paintbrush if the leather doesn’t come off easily. This will soften it enough that you can scrape it off the desk completely. Skip this step if you are installing leather on a bare table.

Scrape the entire desk surface with a sharp razor blade to remove the leather adhesive. Continue until you reach the bare wood. Skip this step if you are installing leather on a bare table.

Fill any holes or scratches on the table with wood filler and scrape the top with a paint scraper to level the table. Let the wood filler dry completely. Skip this step if you are using a new table.

Sand the entire surface of the desk top with fine grit sandpaper to even out the wood filler as well as any light scratches on the desk. Continue until the desk feels smooth. Wipe off excess sawdust with a damp cloth. Let it dry completely.

Lay the replacement leather over the tabletop using a level to ensure that the leather is placed evenly on the tabletop and squared away with the edges. Lay a straight edge over the leather and cut it to size by dragging a razor blade over it. Choose the right size depending on your need and preference. Cutting the leather so there is a ½-inch border of wood around the edge of the table helps prevent the leather from wearing out prematurely along the table's edge. Check often while you are cutting to ensure the leather is straight and level with the edges of the table.

Paint the leather adhesive on the table top over the area that is to be covered with leather. Apply a thick but even layer of glue.

Place the leather over the glue and carefully slide it into position. Ensure that the leather lines up evenly with the edges of the tabletop.

Rub the leather with a cloth from the center of the leather to the edges. This will push out any air bubbles. Hold the leather as you are doing this so you don’t move it. Keep an eye on the edges to ensure they stay even with the table edges.

Let it dry completely according to the glue manufacturer's directions. This should take at least several hours. Brush furniture wax on the edges of the wood with a paintbrush. Brush it on the edges of the leather to burnish them. Let the wax sit for several minutes before buffing it off with a clean cloth. This will help finish the leather edges.