Why is this a question that seems never to go away? Even among members of the profession, the debate over what we call ourselves seems to be a source of turmoil.

The fact is many of us who are practicing the art of interior design are both. Interior decoration or décor has been around as long as humans have been seeking shelter. From the earliest cave drawings to the many cultural identities and style periods throughout our history.

So why is decorator vs. designer such a big deal? Maybe because of how each title is perceived.

When I first started out, the definition that was given to me in college was this: Decorators are good at decorating and styling a room, and designers are good at making the space function and work for a specific task.

So where is the misconception? From where I sit, I don't see one. We as a profession have moved away from the word decorator simply because we do so much more than what decorators in the past traditionally did for their clients.

Many of us hold a college degree in interior design, not interior decoration. We understand the built environment and its effect on the overall health of our planet. We understand life safety issues that need to be in place for specific interiors. We also are great at understanding the psychological effects that lighting and colors have on healing and well-being.

When I hear someone call me a decorator, I am not offended. I do try to correct them by letting them know I'm not a decorator in the traditional use of the term; I do more than that. But when I see designers who take offense from the word decorator as something that is derogatory or insulting, I feel they are forgetting the history of the profession.

The term decorator was not considered insulting 40 or more years ago. Decorators were considered proprietors of style and sophistication among the social elite. The idea that having your personal style created by a professional decorator was a big deal, and many wealthy socialites had a personal decorator among the professionals they routinely hired to help them create a unique décor for their home.

So why are we so turned off by this title? I think it has to do with the image that it brings up in the minds of younger designers. The stereotypes of decorators that have been created in the media that don't fit their idea of what an interior designer is.

I also think these stereotypes create a misleading perception of our profession to the general public. If you really wanted to portray what an interior designer does on a daily basis, it might seem pretty boring to watch on TV. Although HGTV and other design shows have brought to light the value design can bring to a home, they are not portraying interior designers in a way that is real.

Many of these shows call their stars designers, although what they are doing is simply decorating — and doing it the way great decorators have always done. They are creating stylish, and well put together residential homes. Before anyone who is a residential interior designer gets offended, let me just say for the record, interior designers are not limited to just commercial interior design.

Interior designers are much more than just decorators because of our education and experience. We work hard to define our role among other design professionals, such as architects and engineers, because what we do combines various insights of both technical expertise as well as design. We need to continue the effort to define our profession in a way that shows what our strengths are and why our work is important to the built environment.

Recent design legislation that has been passed is continually being questioned by government officials. It is our job as practitioners to be clear on what it is we do. We also need to be clear to justify our claim that it is in the best interest of the general public that they know the difference between someone who is qualified to work on a certain interior project and someone who isn't.

The responsibility should not just be on the architects or general contractors to protect the safety of the public in a building. Interior designers also need to be responsible for the materials and products they select to be used in homes, offices, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and anywhere people live, work and play.

So if your passion is color, fabric, great finishes or furniture, make sure you embrace that inner decorator! Let them out once in a while and don't be offended, especially if someone older than you calls you a decorator instead of an interior designer. Politely let them know the difference, but remember this is how our profession started.

We may be dealing with more complex issues than just the latest color trends, but we need to be more open to the idea that you can be both a designer and a decorator. No matter what title you use, your passion will always be the same — creating great interiors.