Where to Put a Humidifier in the Bedroom – Key Considerations

A humidifier can make a big difference in the overall comfort and your health when you use them correctly.

But, unless you’re an expert in humidifiers, using them can be confusing, especially when it comes to finding the best location for them. The right placement is critical to getting the most benefits from it.

Where to Put Humidifier in Bedroom

Put the humidifier on the floor or a shelf away from your bed. You want to be sure that it won’t damage anything if it were to leak. If you can’t do anything but put your humidifier on a carpeted floor or wooden shelf, put it on a plastic tray to catch the water on the floor.

Since there is more to it than this, you want to carefully consider everything that goes into the process of selecting the correct placement for the humidifier in the bedroom. We’ve outlined everything important for you below.

Bedroom Placement for Your Humidifier

Before you decide to get a dehumidifier, you should invest in a hygrometer that will tell you exactly how much humidity you have in your bedroom air.

You’ll typically see that some areas have more humidity than others, and you should put your humidifier in the spot that has the least amount of humidity. Although this step isn’t critical, it’s a way to get a good starting point to the best location.

Exactly where you want to put your humidifier depends on the size of the unit you picked out and how many people sleep in the room.

If more people sleep in the room, it’s a good idea to get a larger humidifier. A larger humidifier does best when you put it three or more feet from your bed in a corner. Where you decide to place the unit also depends on the type of humidifier you buy, including:

Cool-Mist Humidifier

Cool-mist humidifiers are generally considered safer to use than warm-mist humidifiers, and you can safely put them near the bed when you have an allergy or cold flare-up.

Ideally, you’ll set it at least three feet away when you’re sleeping, and you should remember that you have to leave a gap between the device and the wall.

Some models need more space to ensure the air circulates correctly to prevent the device from overheating, and putting it too close to the wall will hinder this.

Warm-Mist Humidifier

If you suffer from allergies, have a cold, or usually feel like you’re congested, this type of humidifier is a great pick. However, you have to be careful as you shouldn’t put it too close to the bed when you sleep.

It should be a few feet away from the bed in a corner, and you can put it on a nightstand during the day to add moisture to the air before you sleep.

• Word of Caution: If you put it too close to you, this type of humidifier can cause burns. Always try and keep it a safe distance from your pets, children, and yourself. Then use boiling water to create mist, so it should be on a very stable platform before you go to sleep.

Take Your Bedroom Size Into Consideration

Consider your humidifier size and your bedroom size when you pick out a device because having a big humidifier in a smaller room isn’t great.

The unit will put out too much mist, and this creates a moist environment for mildew and mold to thrive. This can eventually make you sick from breathing in the mold or mildew.

In large or medium-sized rooms, you can easily put your humidifier virtually anywhere and get full room coverage. The humidifier will work to distribute the moisture and vapors evenly, and this will ensure the whole room has the correct humidity level.

Avoid Vents and Radiators

You always want to avoid putting your humidifier by a vent or the radiator because putting it near these items can throw off your humidity readings.

So, if the unit comes with a hydrometer built into the design, it’ll give you a lower result due to the lower humidity air coming from the radiator or vent.

Due to a low reading, the humidifier will start running much higher to balance it out, and this can create more mist than you need. So, try to place it centrally in the room.

Should You Put the Humidifier on the Floor or Table?

Whether or not you put the humidifier on the floor or table will depend on different situations, and larger humidifiers aren’t ideal for being on a stand or table.

This is particularly true if you have small children or pets who could bump it or pull it down. However, it’s not a straightforward decision.

If you’re putting the humidifier on the floor, you should put a protective layer between the surface and the unit to prevent accidental spills.

If you have small children or pets, keep the humidifier where they can’t reach it or knock it over. However, if it’s possible, elevate the device, so it distributes the mist evenly.

Cool mist models need to be elevated as high as possible for them to work correctly because droplets need time to blend with the room’s atmosphere.

If it is on the floor, they’ll drop without evaporating correctly. If you don’t have a table suitable for it, you may want to invest in one and put a cloth under the machine.

Places to Avoid Putting Your Humidifier

There are good spots for this unit, but there are also bad ones that you want to avoid. A few of the bad spots include:

Away from Direct Sunlight – Don’t put the humidifier by the open window because it can cause the water to produce bacteria that the machine will vaporize for you to inhale. This can lead to a host of respiratory problems, and they can be severe in people who have allergies or asthma.

Away from Technology – Avoid putting your humidifier by computers, TVs, and other electronics and technology. Spills or droplets can start electrical fires or damage the items.

Near Electrical Outlets – Putting your humidifier by an electrical outlet can lead to short circuits and rust. Water could leak from the unit and cause issues with your home’s electrical system, and this could even lead to fires.

Off Carpets – Putting the humidifier right on your carpet without a buffer can cause water damage, completely ruin it, or lead to mold growth. Always put a plastic tray or buffer underneath it to protect the surface.

Relatively Easy-Access Places – Don’t place your humidifier in an area where you can’t get to it, or that makes you forget it’s there. You want to put it in a place where you can clean and service it as needed. You should also be able to access it to switch it off if it gets too hot.

Bottom Line

A humidifier in your bedroom is great for helping you sleep better by reducing allergens or airborne viruses, and it can potentially help relieve congestion or dry skin during a flare-up.

However, you have to know where to correctly place it to get the biggest benefits out of it, and we outlined them for you.