Today's common definition of a Set Decorator is the person in charge of the Set Dressing on a film set. By contrast a Production Designer or Set Designer are different (in the US). A Production Designer is an above the line department head title overseeing the entire film design team. Set Designer is a person who specifically drafts the building plans for set construction. The Set Designer puts the designs created by the Production Designer into architectural style drawings. The Art Director is the head of the set construction department and works directly under the Production Designer. The Art Director supervises the construction of the sets.

Production Designer and Art Director are senior positions to the Set Decorator, who is responsible for furnishing the set lighting fixtures whatever is required to furnish the set.

Props and set dressing often overlap, but are provided by different departments. Props are defined as items which are handled directly by actors, and discussions take place between set decorator and prop masters in order to check that everything is being covered. The set decorator gives direction to buyers and to the Lead Man, who is in charge of the Set Dressers. The Set Decorator maintains a Set Dressing Budget separate from the set budget or the prop budget and answers directly to the Production Designer.