Kayleigh Dray
Kayleigh Dray joined the Ideal Home team in May 2023, and it feels like a role for which she’s been preparing her entire life. After all, her first ever job was working at a busy local garden centre, before she became a property writer for Fine & Country Estate Agents – a job which helped fund her degree in English Literature & Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London.
She kicked off her career in magazines with an eye-opening internship at Cosmopolitan – and was able to impress her editor so much that she kept her on as a news writer. Kayleigh then went on to become part of the digital editorial team at Closer, before a successful seven-year stint at Stylist, where she took command as the site’s editor (and editor-at-large).
Nowadays, she can be found freelancing for a myriad titles about film and TV, but it’s her part time role at Ideal Home that allows her the chance to wax lyrical about her true love: gardening. She has just set to work on giving her own scrubby backyard a woodland-inspired makeover – and there’s been whispers of a vegetable plot, too!
Ideal Home Truths
Where’s your happy place?
My happy place is my tiny kitchen, as it’s the first room we put our own stamp on when we moved in. I love the clean white walls and turquoise tiles, and I’m obviously a big fan of the windowsill filled with herb pots and flowering fruit plants, too. There’s still work to be done, but I can’t help but feel proud of how pretty and functional this dinky little room has become.
What’s your home addiction?
I'm obsessed with buying plants – it’s actually been said I have a serious plant problem by more than one person. Whether it’s the time I “accidentally” signed up to a monthly plant subscription service and filled my home with leafy beauties, or the time I woke up frighteningly early to make sure I got my mitts on a coveted climbing hydrangea at our local community plant sale (hey, it’s for charity!), there’s a reason my husband now insists on a One In, One Out policy.
What is your next home project?
This house was bought at auction as a definite fixer-upper, and has been a work in progress ever since. Downstairs is almost sorted (almost), so next it’s the turn of upstairs, and particularly the so-called nursery, as the baby is still camping out in our bedroom…
Latest articles by Kayleigh Dray
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Can't sleep at night? This Nordic garden hack could prove the solution
The garden nap station is the natural evolution of an old Nordic sleep hack
By Kayleigh Dray
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11 plants that will add value to your home (and yes, hydrangeas are on the list)
From hydrangeas to pleached trees, these are the plants that increase property value
By Kayleigh Dray
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'I really rate it' - this hot composting bin loved by garden designers is perfect for small gardens
Garden designers say this is the best hot composting bin (and it's available on Amazon!)
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow cucamelons from seed for an exotic (and TikTok friendly) crop
Won over by all those TikTok and Instagram posts? Here's how to grow cucamelons from seed
By Kayleigh Dray
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9 truly gorgeous Scandi garden design ideas you will want to steal
Keen to create a Scandi-style garden in your own backyard? Look this way
By Kayleigh Dray
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Do citronella candles actually repel mosquitoes? Science reveals the truth
If you've been using citronella candles to keep mosquitoes away from your garden patio, you might want to rethink your strategy...
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to embrace rain harvesting, the age-old watering hack we all need in our gardens
Need a free watering hack? Make the most of those summer thunderstorms with a spot of rain harvesting
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow chillis in pots if you want to add some heat to your garden
Feeling hot hot hot? Here's how to grow chilli peppers in pots and containers
By Kayleigh Dray
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I tried 3 genius slow watering hacks in my garden – this one was the best by far
These tried-and-tested slow watering hacks will see you repurpose plastic bottles and flower pots to keep your garden thriving
By Kayleigh Dray
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12 garden watering mistakes that you want to avoid at all costs
From underwatering to overwatering, these are the garden watering mistakes to avoid this summer and beyond.
By Kayleigh Dray
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How often should you water your garden in the hot weather? The ultimate heatwave watering guide
Trying to figure out how much water your garden needs in this obscenely hot weather? We're here to help
By Kayleigh Dray
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Fans are going wild for Myleene Klass's bold hand-painted garden bench
Bright, beautiful, and vibrant – is it any wonder Myleene Klass's hand-painted garden bench is a social media sensation?
By Kayleigh Dray
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Companion planting is the clever gardening hack you need to banish pests
Here's your step-by-step guide to companion planting
By Kayleigh Dray
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9 vegetables pretty enough to plant in flower beds for a true edimentals vibe
Inspired by the edimentals trend? Here are the pretty vegetables that will help you nail the potager garden look
By Kayleigh Dray
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Pelargonsjuka is the Scandi gardening trend to know about – Dawn French is already a fan
Simple *and* stunning? No wonder so many people are falling for this Scandi gardening trend
By Kayleigh Dray
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Yes, you can grow raspberry canes in pots – how to get a bumper crop of raspberries on a balcony
You don't need lots of space to grow your own fruit – especially if you decide to plant raspberry canes
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow a beautiful lemon tree from seed (you know you want to)
When life gives you lemon seeds, plant lemon trees. Obviously
By Kayleigh Dray
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7 best trees for small gardens, and how to help them thrive
Think your garden is too small to plant trees in? Think again...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Garden Rescue's Lee Burkhill shares his secret planting hack for a truly modern garden
Trying to create a modern garden? Try this easy planting technique from the star of BBC One’s Garden Rescue, Lee Burkhill
By Kayleigh Dray
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Fearne Cotton and Gemma Collins are both obsessed with this year's 'it' flower
This year's 'it' flower was everywhere at RHS Chelsea Flower Show – and Fearne Cotton and Gemma Collins have been championing it on Instagram, too!
By Kayleigh Dray
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8 best indoor trees to help you nail TikTok's popular forestcore trend
Looking for the best indoor trees to display around your home? Here's what the experts have to say...
By Kayleigh Dray
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7 vegetables that grow in shade - so anyone can try the grow-your-own trend
Keen to start growing your own veggies, but stuck with a shady garden? There's still hope...
By Kayleigh Dray
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What is chaos gardening? Everything you need to know about the Chelsea-approved trend
Chaos gardening is the hot new trend at RHS Chelsea, but what is it? And does it really work in a normal garden?
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to save an overwatered plant, without calling a gardener
Yes, it really is possible to give your plants too much to drink. Here's how to save an overwatered plant (and spot the signs of overwatering, too)
By Kayleigh Dray