Humidifiers have grown up a bit, especially in their design. Here are five that might help relieve the seasonal dryness, but not offend other sensibilities!
- The Oskar Humidifier from Stadler Form looks more like a modern day electronic component than a humidifier! Available here from Wayfair, it clocks in at $149 (down from $174) making it one of the pricier options. It's pretty fantastic design, though, for something that may sit prominently in your room for an entire season!
- Also from Stadler Form, who seem to corner the market on handsome humidifiers, the Fred Humidifier is a playful take on modern design. Macy's offers the device in multiple colors, which adds to the toy-like flair of this item.
- The Air-O-Swiss Evaporator Humidifier is the priciest of the bunch, at $251 from Sears, but touts a sleek design as well as high energy efficiency.
- The Stadler Form Hydra Humidifier has a more traditional look for a humidifier, but stays subtle and unobtrusive in design. At $99 from Wayfair, it sits solidly in the middle of the price range and promises mold prevention, demineralization and a large room spread for humidification.
- The Coway MHS-U2201 Humidifier, seen for $69 at Housewares Only, rings in at the least expensive of the crew. It has a sort of futuristic vibe with it's pod shape, and is just over 8" wide by 11" high, creating a pretty small footprint. The compact design makes it pretty easy to blend in with home decor.
Apartment Therapy's Sofa Shopping Guide
Nikki’s Sweet and Cheery Print Studio
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Sprout Side Table
5 Things Paris Taught Me About Travel
Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
I really loved the Oskar humidifier during my time here in Switzerland. I plan to get one that runs on 120V when I return to the US next year.
How could you miss the gorgeous Drop humidifier from Crane? I adore it's simple curves and how non-toaster-oven-y it looks. Works equally well in my bedroom and in the nursery. It comes in ridiculously fun colors and is cheaper than all of the ones you listed at around $50. (http://crane-usa.com/products/drop)
I've got the Drop humidifier from Crane as well. It is a great buy.
true story...i had the No.5 humidifier on my list of things to purchase last winter, but i let it sit there until my husband got really sick.
we ended up having to go out and buy the first one we could find...which turned out to be a bright yellow duck (kid's humidifier), and we've been using it ever since.
it really works fantastically, it's not too loud and doesn't run out of water for a few days...but he has to stay tucked under our nightstand during the day because he's an embarassment.
hahaha. here he is...
http://crane-usa.com/products/adorables/duck-adorable-humidifier/
What I care about is finding a humidifier without a light! I love keeping the bedroom really dark and I want to run a humidifier all night, but can't deal with the way they all glow. Does anyone know of a humidifier that doesn't have a light?
The Hydra one looks like it has one small light on the front I might be able to cover with electrical tape, but I'll be grateful if anyone has any concrete suggestions!
annekg -- if you live in the US, a simple $40-$45 humidifier from Walgreens will fit the bill. I have one and the light can be on or off and is super quiet too.
I also have an Air-O-Swiss 7145 which is about $119 on Amazon, but honestly, it's way more maintenance and the mineral granules don't do a great job of cutting back on the mineral dust. I give it a thumbs up for design but it's also noisier than my Walgreen's humidifier so it's banished to the hallway. It has no light.