Ploy Chariyaves.
Flowers are one of the most beautiful things in the world and the most prevalent. Gentrification and urbanisation, sadly, do not leave much space for flowers to thrive naturally, which explains why flowers, especially incredibly gorgeous ones, are insanely expensive and more so when it comes to special days like Valentine’s Day and Christmas.
Lifestyle guru and writer Ploy Chariyaves is, in her own words, obsessed with flowers. She often goes out to snip a few flowers in her garden or randomly picks something up from the market. “Flowers don’t have to be expensive. It’s all about how you present them,” she said.
Ploy elaborated on how flowers, being created by nature, bring energy and liveliness to any space; a small flower pot can make such a difference to a room. Her example is her own small kitchen at her condominium. It has a kitchen island from Ikea, but with the right flowers in the right container, it becomes picture-perfect.
In a recent workshop titled Energizing Your Space by Jonathan Adler, Ploy offered simple tips on how to use flowers and inexpensive items to attract positive energy into your humble home.
1. Price isn’t everything
“Flowers that we see every day like fueangfa (bougainvillea), dok pud (gardenia), or dok khem (ixora) can do wonders to your space. They are pretty on their own, but if you want to make it more interesting, you can group flowers of the same colour into one container.”
2. Go green
“Don’t underestimate leaves and branches. They can really make a difference to a room. Put a bunch of pine branches together in a white vase, or add them to your flower arrangement. Greenness bring liveliness and peace, especially to a small room.”
A single leaf and a clear bottle can bring a sense of calmness.
3. Recycle
“I don’t buy vases that much — I recycle. Containers like jam bottles, cups, bowls, or boxes can always be used as vases. Or if you’re bored with your old vase, simply wrap a piece of paper around it to create a new look. You can’t go wrong with black and white. Brown paper can also add a crafty vibe.”
4. Don’t be afraid of colours
“Sometimes people worry too much about matching the right colours. I do colour blocking with everything — my clothes, my home, my drawing and my flowers. Just go with your gut. Try orange and blue flowers in a white vase — it will spice up your home. There are no ugly colour combinations — only unbalanced composition.”
5. Keep it real
“Beautifully arranged bouquets may be pretty, but I prefer something real. I don’t call what I do flower arranging — I think of it as flower placement. I don’t arrange them because if it’s too planned it’ll look pretentious. Even modern florists are now more gravitated towards messily placed flowers.”
6. Know your flowers
“One time, I uploaded a photo of some beautiful flowers in a vase at home, and many fans warned me that they were actually poisonous! I had no idea — I just thought they were pretty. Apparently, certain flowers are not meant to be kept in your home, particularly not in the kitchen or where you keep your food.”
7. Go seasonal
“Flowers bloom throughout the year, so the choice is practically endless. Stick to seasonal flowers — they are at their most beautiful and they are not too pricey.” g
Ploy’s homegrown orchids in a used Horlicks mixer.
Forget perfection – realness is the way to go.
A single rose in a used candle jar.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.