I got involved in a discussion on another blog, about the differences between a home being "staged" or "decorated".  I brought up the difference after the blog was written (for the public), about a "decorated" home ready to sell. 

I spent the better part of 20 years as a "visual merchandiser".  I always say that is a fancy name for a display artist, and in fact that is what we were called when I started.  But it is not entirely true, that it is a fancy name for the same thing, because the job description changed as the title changed.

In the beginning, there were "window dressers".  The entire focus was on the street-side display windows on a retail store. They gave way to "display artists" who focused a little more on the store interiors, and mannequins.  At some point in the 70's, "display artists" became "visual merchandisers".  I remember when our title changed at the company I worked for.  Being a display artist was the most fun job I have ever had.  Our new manager called a meeting and said he never wanted to hear the word "FUN" again...

Over the course of the next year, our focus changed from "fun" windows, and interior displays, to using  research, studies, statistics and calculated moves to entice the customers into stores.  Our window displays were still fun, but the interiors became MORE fun, more theatrical, and interactive. 

My point?  We were always decorating.  Back when they were window dressers, they were decorating windows.  As display artists we were decorating windows, and interiors, and when we became visual merchandisers we were decorating "with intent".  That for me is the difference between staging and decorating in this career.  Staging is visual merchandising for the home-seller. Decorating with intent. Decorating is display art for the home-dweller. 

                      Getting inspiration NYC, 2007