So you went ahead and got a humidifier. 

Congrats! You've taken an important step towards making your home a more healthy and comfortable environment.

A humidifier can work wonders to improve air quality, alleviate dryness, prevent respiratory issues, and enhance your overall well-being. However, the placement of your humidifier within your living space can impact its performance.

So you might be wondering:

What's the perfect spot for your new appliance? Does it need to be in a specific location? Should you keep it in your living room or kitchen? In your bedroom? Close to the nightstand or as far away as possible from your bed? Maybe even in the bathroom?

The truth is that there are all types of possible setups for your humidifier. The best one for your situation depends on your specific needs as well as the layout of your home. 

Choosing the Perfect Location for Your Humidifier

Let's begin with 2 basic principles when deciding on the right spot for your humidifier.

The Right Elevation

Place your humidifier on a small table or flat surface that is at least two feet off the floor.

As a general principle, the higher, the better. The mist that the humidifier produces needs to mix in with the surroundings to ensure proper air circulation.

If you place it on the floor, the mist will remain too low to the ground and only cause wet floors. Additionally, keeping the device off the ground prevents you (or family members) from accidentally kicking the machine over or tripping on it! 

The Right Setup

We recommend placing some sort of layer under the humidifier in order to protect your furniture and prevent water damage. After all, excess moisture levels can be damaging to wooden surfaces and cause a mess.

A thick, water-resistant material like a mat or towel that can catch spills or droplets would be ideal.

Bonus: if done right, this can even add an aesthetic look to your humidifier setup.  

Humidifiers in the Bedroom

A humidifier can be a great addition to your bedroom. It can help create an ideal environment for comfort and relaxation. 

Before we get into the reasons why, let's briefly review.

There are four main types of humidifiers — steam vaporizer, ultrasonic humidifier, evaporative humidifier, and whole-house or central humidifier — each with their own unique features and benefits.

So the optimal placement for your humidifier may depend on which type of humidifier you have. 

Avoid Steam Vaporizers in the Bedroom

Placing a steam vaporizer with a boiling water tank near the bed can be dangerous especially if there are children or pets around.

Steam vaporizers can cause burns if placed close to you.

This machine uses boiling water to produce a warm mist — that’s why you need to place it on a stand or platform that is stable. Make sure that it's kept a safe distance from the people and pets inside the house, as well as from electrical outlets, electronic devices, and delicate items.

This kind of warm-mist humidifier should left be at the corner of a room or at least a few meters away from you in order to avoid any safety hazards.

Also, be sure to always keep this device on a flat stand or platform in order to prevent spills of hot water! 

Keep Ultrasonic or Evaporative Humidifiers by Your Bedside

Meanwhile, for an ultrasonic or evaporative humidifier that emits cool mist, you'll most likely want to keep it on your bedside table during the summer to enjoy the refreshing breeze and circulation at night. It can also keep you hydrated especially in light of all the air conditioning.

During the cold winter months, however, it might get a bit chilly if you leave this kind of humidifier too close to your bed. 

For any device, make sure that it's not right up against the wall, or else the mist will have a hard time providing adequate airflow.

Also, while keeping a humidifier near your bed for fast and quick relief is fine, be sure to maintain a reasonable distance so that you're actually diffusing moisture through the air rather than directly inhaling it!

Humidifiers in the Living Room

Having a humidifier in your living room is an excellent way to fight off dryness and keep the whole family happy, healthy, and hydrated.

As studies have shown, maintaining proper levels of moisture can help prevent infection, as well as alleviate cold and flu symptoms. 

Where to Place Your Humidifier Based on Room Space and Size

The main things to consider are the size of the living space and the power of your humidifier device.

Compact Humidifiers for Small Rooms

If you have a portable, compact humidifier, it might be best suited for a tinier bedroom or bathroom rather than a large common area in the house.

It's not ideal to have a larger humidifier in a small room — this could create an overly-moist environment and eventually lead to mildew and mold growth.

Stronger Humidifiers for Medium-to-Large Rooms

But for most medium-to-large rooms and tabletop humidifiers that can cover hundreds of square feet in area, the perfect placement shouldn't be much of a concern. Simply keep some of the common principles that we discussed earlier in mind.

Although a quality humidifier should work well and distribute water vapors evenly throughout the room from any reasonable location, placing your humidifier on a central, elevated surface like a high table or countertop would be ideal.

Humidifiers in the Bathroom

Should you keep your humidifier in the bathroom? Well, not really.

The function of a humidifier, of course, is to restore moisture in a dry environment. However, the bathroom is a small space that is full of water sources, so the air should already contain enough moisture — no need for additional levels of humidity!

If you really want a humidifier inside the bathroom, keep in mind not to turn the humidifier on every after bath or shower. Excessive vapor levels can lead to mold and mildew growth.

Humidifier Placement in Your Baby's Nursery or Kid's Room

Using a humidifier can greatly benefit your babies or kids, helping to promote a sound sleep and create a healthy, comfortable living environment. It can also help to fight allergies, the common cold, sinus congestion, and other ailments.

To prevent accidents inside the nursery or kid's room, we suggest using a cool-mist humidifier on an elevated surface. Avoid putting it too close to where they sleep or play in order to avoid accidental spills — at least 3 feet away from the bed is recommended.

And of course, avoid using a steam humidifier, for reasons we previously mentioned.

Here's another tip: once the unit is turned on, leave the door slightly open so that the air inside won't become too moist with overly high humidity levels.

We also suggest looking for a quiet humidifier so that your baby or kids won't be bothered and can peacefully sleep.

To learn more about the benefits of humidifiers for babies and kids, check out our previous article “4 Reasons Why Humidifiers Are Best for Your Babies (and Kids).”

Additional Tips for the Right Placement of Your Humidifier

1. Keep your humidifier away from direct sunlight.

Don't leave your humidifier right by the window.

Overexposure to sunlight can cause the water inside to produce bacteria and mold growth that evaporates into the air, making it potentially dangerous to inhale. This may lead to respiratory illnesses and asthma or allergy symptoms.

2. Maintain a proper level of indoor humidity.

Ideally, humidity levels are kept between 40% - 60%. Avoid going over 60%. Again, an overly damp environment and excessive humidity can cause the growth of bacteria and mold -- something you don't want!

3. Lastly, place your humidifier where it's easy to access.

Place your device where you can actually attend to it if servicing is necessary. Make sure to clean your humidifier frequently. Use distilled water, and change the water regularly to prevent any issues. 

Enjoy the Benefits of a Well-Placed Humidifier

With all the extraordinary benefits of a humidifier, placing it in a rightful location that meets your needs is really essential.

In your quest to find the perfect spot, remember that the best location ultimately depends on your specific needs and the layout of your living space.

Whether your humidifier is positioned in your bedroom for a peaceful night's sleep, the living room to enhance family comfort, or even the nursery to ensure your baby's well-being, a well-placed humidifier can certainly transform your indoor environment.

If you're looking for greater versatility, you can even opt for a portable humidifier, which can be conveniently moved around the house anytime to wherever you need it.

From sound sleep to healthy, beautiful skin to the alleviation of respiratory issues, humidifiers have got it all for you.

Once you find that perfect place, simply let your humidifier work its magic, enhancing your surroundings and enriching your daily life. 

Explore Carepod. Award-winning, filter-free and doctor-invented, Carepod is the simplest, cleanest humidifier for households everywhere.