We can use the verb ser with a past participle, but this is exclusive to the passive voice. In the case of estar, we’re not describing the state of a person or object, we’re just describing an action. Let’s compare both possibilities:
ser + past participle | estar + past participle |
---|---|
La comida es preparada por los cocineros. The meal is cooked by the chefs. | El salón está decorado para la fiesta. The hall is decorated for the party. |
In the sentence on the left, we’re using ser to make the passive voice. We’re describing an action and putting emphasis on it (es preparada(is prepared)). The agent (the person or thing that performs the action) who prepared the food, is not that important and that’s why we don’t emphasize that.
In the example on the right, we want to emphasize the fact that there is a party planned and that the hall being decorated is the resulting state of that planned event.