A decorative molded article has a light source disposed on a back side, for causing different designs to appear on a front surface side thereof, when the light source is off and when on, respectively. A base made of a predetermined synthetic resin permeable to light from the light source is disposed close to the light source. A wood veneer having a grain and permeable to light from the light source is disposed on a front side of the base. A colored coating layer is formed on a front side of the base using a paint having a predetermined color and a clear coating layer is formed on a front side of the colored coating layer using a transparent clear paint. The colored coating layer makes the grain difficult to visually recognize when the light source is off and visually recognizable when on.