Abstract The new type of plastic-film-reinforced pliable decorative sliced veneer (PRPDSV) is a green product that features remarkable water resistance, no glue penetration, easy operation, low cost, good environmental protection, and no formaldehyde release. However, curling deformation under high-temperature hot-pressing is a bottleneck in the industrial development of this product. The relationship among hot-pressing temperature, thickness of decorative sliced veneer and plastic film, and type of decorative sliced veneer and curling deformation was studied through calculating experimental and theoretical models to explore the factors that influence the curling deformation of PRPDSV under hot-pressing. The nonlinear finite element analysis method was used for the first time to establish the elastic-plastic finite element simulation model of the PRPDSV composite. A comparison of the results obtained through the job visualization model and the experimental results indicated the reliability of the established model. Results showed that the hot-pressing temperature had a remarkable effect on the curling deformation of PRPDSV. As the hot-pressing temperature increased, the curvature radius of the curling deformation decreased and the curling degree gradually increased. The curling deformation was small when the ratio of the thickness of decorative sliced veneer was greater than that of the plastic film. The decorative sliced veneer with dense wood pores and other cellular tissues presented slight curling deformation from the hot-pressing composite.