Everything! Haha. A set decorator is the department head responsible for set dressing—the furniture, rugs, drapery, lighting, artwork, books, and all the lived-in details you see on camera. Working closely with the production designer and director, the set decorator researches the world of the story, sources and rents or builds the right pieces, manages budgets and crews, and styles the set so it feels believable and supports the character, time period, and tone. In short: production design sets the vision, and set decoration makes it feel real.

A Production Designer is the head of the art department—the person responsible for the big picture look of a film or TV show. They build the visual world: the overall style, architecture, color palette, materials, and how every location and set supports the story. Think: the blueprint for the entire vibe.

A Set Decorator takes that blueprint and makes it feel like real life on camera. Set decoration is the furniture, rugs, drapery, lamps, artwork, books, plants—every detail actors touch, sit on, and live inside. The set decorator sources it, budgets it, crews it, and styles it so the space tells you who the character is before anyone says a word.

In simple terms: Production Design designs the world. Set Decoration makes it lived-in.

Decorating Pages is a production design and set decoration podcast hosted by Emmy-winning set decorator Kim Wannop. Each episode goes behind the scenes of film and television to break down how sets are designed, built, and dressed—what choices were made, why they matter, and the wild logistics it takes to pull it off.

Conversations feature production designers, set decorators, and other key below-the-line creatives talking inspiration, research, locations, props and set dressing details, and how a script turns into a fully lived-in world on camera. It’s basically a love letter to visual storytelling… with receipts.