Decoration makes a home: the role of living room furnishings in achieving a dignified standard of living in urban Mexico

This article explores the ways in which home furnishings and the ability to decorate one's living room form part of a dignified standard of living. The analysis uses data from the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) project in Mexico, which finds the income required to achieve a decent standard of living based on what members of the public consensually define. Six focus groups were carried out in Monterrey and Mexico City in 2016 and concentrated on listing the items that any living room in a family with children in that country should have in order to achieve a dignified standard of living. Results indicate that a dignified standard of living entails more than just having access to housing and includes the ability to produce a home. Being able to imprint one's personality and to feel connected with society were understood as crucial components of a dignified standard of living. Consequently, participants in the study in Mexico stressed the importance of furnishings and decoration in the living room that fulfil a practical function but also help to satisfy the need for self-identification and connectedness with society.