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Okay, so this may sound like the most boring topic ever. But, hear me out...

This is the first in a series I'm calling "Pretty Ugly Things," where I'll share the most aesthetically pleasing options for necessary, but notoriously unsightly, household items.

This series was inspired by the saying "have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or think to be beautiful." I'd go a step further and add that the useful things should also be beautiful (when possible).

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The first thing on my butt-ugly hit list? The humidifier.

Living in Toronto, we have the heat running 24/7 in the winter. This results in bone-dry air, necessitating a humidifier---unless you want to look and feel like the Lizard Man until spring.

We already have a humidifier in each of our bedrooms. But, now that our home's turned into a bit of an urban jungle, I realized we'll also need one in our main living space to keep our plant babies from drying out this winter.

Shopping around online, I realized there just aren't a lot of attractive options. In my search for a not-too-hideous humidifier, the idea for "Pretty Ugly Things" was born.

Without further ado, here's my list of the best looking (least hideous) humidifiers out there. Scroll down to the end if you're not in the market for a humidifier but are now a little curious about what we ended up with...

The Most Stylish Humidifiers

1. Taotronics Space Saving Cool Mist Humidifier

Taotronics Space Saving Cool Mist Humidifier ($45.99, Amazon.com).

This is one of the best rated humidifiers on Amazon. Its vertical shape and tiny footprint occupies minimal space---handy for a bedside table. The sleek design holds its own with modern, minimalist decor. It has a 1.5 L capacity and can run for 24 hours between refills.

2. Asakuki Cool Mist Humidifier and Diffuser

Asakuki Cool Mist Humidifier and Diffuser ($24.99, Amazon.com).

This is a well-rated, budget-friendly option. I love its simple shape and the fact it can be lit up like a nightlight in different colors and used with essential oils. It's on the small side, holding only 500 mL of water, but can reportedly run for up to 16 hours between refills.

3. Crane Cool Mist Humidifier

Crane Cool Mist Humidifier ($42.99, Amazon.com).

We used to have this one in my son's room when he was a baby. It holds a gallon (3.8 L) of water and can run for 24 hours between refills. We ran it each night and usually refilled it three times a week. Something about the teardrop shape seems so apropos for an infant's room. Gotta admit, something about this one gives me a little PTSD for those early days of motherhood...

4. Miroco Cool Mist Humdifier

Miroco Ultrasonic Cool Humidifier ($86.99, Amazon.com).

If you don't mind the price tag, this 6 L humidifier can run for a whopping 60 hours between refills and has a perfect five star rating on Amazon. It boasts clean lines and comes in black or white.

The Winner

Levoit Cool Mist Humidifier & Diffuser ($59.99, Amazon.com). This isn't a sponsored post. This just happens to be the one I actually liked best.

We ended up going with this sleek, well-rated humidifier and essential oil diffuser from Levoit. It holds 1.8 L and can run for up to 20 hours between refills. I love its understated design and the fact that it's top-filling. It's also a plus that it can be used with essential oils.

As an MD, I should probably clarify. I don't currently own any essential oils, but I kinda want to see what all the hype is about without investing in a separate diffuser.

I imagine using them the way one would a scented candle or air freshener, to mask unpleasant odors from time-to-time (not to cleanse the room of bad energy or cure vaccine preventable illness...).

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The Levoit humidifier/diffuser is a lot less of an eyesore than the basic Honeywell humidifier we have in our bedroom. I like that it looks a lot less humidifier-y.

It's also top-loading, which makes it easier to refill. Why all humidifiers aren't designed this way is beyond me...

I hate having to invert the water receptacle and unscrew the lid when refilling our old humidifier. Those extra steps seem like an insurmountable barrier when you notice the tank's empty in the middle of the night. If that's not a first world problem, I don't know what is.

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Most importantly, I love the way it blends into our living room. It's worthy of sitting atop our side table, instead of behind it. Coming from someone who prefers appliances that can be kept out of sight, that's saying a lot.

Now our plant babies can breathe easy, too!

Here's a short clip of it in action, so you can gauge the mist and noise level when the Levoit's set to full blast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKa79Xn4z6I

I usually run it at the second highest (errr...steamiest?) setting out of three. I top it up before bed and before leaving for work in the morning and it's still running when I get home. There's also a weaker 'night mode,' which is virtually silent.

That's all for this week! Have a suggestion for the next edition of Pretty Ugly Things? Drop me a line!

Stay tuned for future posts on minimalist/sustainable Christmas decor ideas and easy DIY art ideas for your home.

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#humidifiers