Daniel is our resident house gadget geek. He is our man in the frontline, following consumer trends to help him identify the best up and coming tech to review for HouseFresh. When he’s not tinkering with new gadgets, he composes and records his own music at home.
In a world of traffic pollution, wildfires, pandemics, and strange odors, there’s never a better time to invest in an air purifier.
Although they may not seem like they do a lot, they are the heroes in our homes, protecting your health from multiple issues that, if left unchecked, could damage your well-being and your home and furnishings.
Issues like:
Air purifiers are a fan that pushes air through a filter. The filter acts as a net that traps all the nasty particles you don’t want in your home. When you think about it that way, they aren’t stylish.
That is why you will probably notice that air purifiers aren’t usually the most aesthetically pleasing of home appliances. Trust me, I’ve seen a lot of units that are boring, white boxes that look about as interesting as sitting through a Kenny G concert (sorry, Kenny G fans).
But there is hope.
We’ve put our knowledge to good use by seeking our favorite selection of stylish air purifiers that will make a difference to the air in your home while keeping the aesthetic you’ve worked so hard to achieve… Oh and we also included the one unit to avoid the plague, no matter how good it looks.
The Top 3 Most Stylish Air Purifiers
We know design is subjective, so if none of our top three tickle your fancy, have a look at what other units we think are the pageant queens of air quality.
1. Levoit Core 600S
The 600S has fast become one of our favorite units in the HouseFresh offices. It has plenty of smart features to keep you going, it looks cool sitting in your room, and its performance in our testing room blew us away.
Levoit’s upgraded ‘Core S’ units are packed with smart features which give you more freedom to control the air quality in your room using the touchscreen interface and their smartphone app.
The app recognizes your unit through its in-built WiFi and lets you monitor PM2.5, set timers, change fan speeds, and adjust efficiency settings in auto and eco modes.
Even though you’ve come here for stylish designs, the most important part of an air purifier is its fans and filters.
Levoit knows this and doesn’t let us down. Under the hood of the 600S is a circular three-stage H13 True HEPA filter with a packed Activated Carbon layer that adsorbs odors.
This unit will not only fit into your light, modern home but also protect your health by cleaning the air faster than you can say, “Honey, let’s go, Pottery Barn”.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | H13 True HEPA filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 410 CFM / 697 m³/h |
| Recommended room size: | 635 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 26 – 55 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 12.3L x 12.3W x 23.6H inches / 31.3L x 31.3W x 60H cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $102.11 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 One of the highest performing purifiers we’ve tested
👍 Only pulls 6.2 watts of power on eco mode
👍 The LED air quality indicator ring
👍 Its energy efficiency
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Would be cool if it came in different colors
👎 The air quality sensor is on the back, so if it’s too close to the wall it won’t work effectively
2. Blueair Blue Pure 211+
Blueairs’ ‘Blue’ range has become very popular amongst consumers and designers. They’ve spiced the boring old box with colored pre-filters, one-button operation, and a cosmic-looking air outlet.
The Blue Pure 211+ bases its looks on minimalism. There’s no control panel clustered with blinking lights and buttons; the whole unit is operated with one big button on the front. It has three fan speeds which proved extremely effective in our testing room.
Not just a pretty face.
Housed in this cute cube is Blueairs’ signature HEPASilent™ filter and Activated Carbon sheet to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.1 microns, meaning far fewer pollutants pass through the purifier.
This awesome filter lasts 6 – 8 months and couldn’t be simpler to replace when the time comes.
One of the best things about this unit from a design point of view is that you can replace the blue pre-filter with different colors.
Don’t like blue? Try black. Want to spice up the room, try pink. Is Gray not working for you? Slip-on yellow. It’s so easy to change, you could pick a different color daily if you wanted.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | HEPASilent™ and Activated Charcoal Filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 350 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 540 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 6 – 8 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 31 – 56 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 20H x 13W x 13D inches / 51H x 33W x 33D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 12.5 lbs / 5.67 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $120.57 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 The pre-filter can be removed and washed
👍 One button operation makes life a whole lot easier
👍 No set-up needed
👍 Excellent CADR rating, especially when considering the price
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 We’d like to see it with an auto mode
👎 Would benefit from an air quality monitor
3. Smart Air S
When this cute little appliance landed on our doorstep, we fell instantly in love with its design. It could be the pear-shaped body, the simple operation, or its European beechwood legs…but in reality, it’s all of that and its amazing performance.
Smart Air has one philosophy, to make no-nonsense air purifiers at an honest price. But that doesn’t mean they can’t make it look good.
There’s no fancy gadgetry or gimmicks in the Smart Air S – it’s simple and effective. One dial switches between the three fan speeds, and…that’s it.
Inside is a thick H11 HEPA filter to capture particles like:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Allergens
- Viruses
- Mold
The filter lasts 6 months (when used 8hrs a day) and couldn’t be simpler to replace when needed.
The Smart Air S fits right into any modern home without making it look too clinical like other units do. The beechwood legs are beautifully crafted and sturdy, and the easy operation makes this air purifier the perfect addition to your home.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | H11 HEPA Filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 185 CFM / 315 m³/h |
| Recommended room size: | 430 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 23 – 52dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 13H x 13W x 14.3D inches / 33H x 33W x 36.3D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 10.1 lbs / 4.58 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $92.55 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 Looks really cute
👍 Easy to operate
👍 Comes with a thick H11 HEPA filter
👍 High-performance for its size
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The Activated Carbon filter has to be purchased at an extra cost
👎 Would like to see some smart features included
4. Alen BreatheSmart 45i
We’ve had this unit for a while now and it has made a few of our lists, mainly because of its performance and features, but i’ve gotta say, it doesn’t half look good either.
Alen is a favorite in the US and for good reason. Each unit holds a high standard while keeping up with current design trends. With six interchangeable unit fronts, the 45i can blend into any aesthetic.
The BreatheSmart 45i sits comfortably in Alen’s mid-range category between the BreatheSmart Classic and the BreatheSmart 75i.
Not only does it look like a high-tech device, but it acts like one too. A light circle in the center of the control panel tells you the quality of your room’s air in real time using different colors.
In Auto mode, the 45i will adjust its fan speed to sync with the air quality monitor, saving you from getting up and down to adjust it.
A major feature of the 45i (and Alen units in general) is their filter size. This isn’t a tiny air purifier, but they’re not wasting space.
The large H13 True HEPA filter and Activated Carbon layer make light work of contaminants in rooms up to 800 sq. ft. The best thing is you can get a filter to match your specific needs.
You can choose from Pure, Odor, and Fresh. Style and substance all in one unit.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | H13 True HEPA filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 245 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | Up to 800 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 12 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 23 – 55 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 25H x 15W x 8.5D inches / 63.5H x 38.1W x 21.6D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $108.62 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 You can change the front panel to reflect your style
👍 There are 3 different filters to choose from
👍 It includes an Ionizer
👍 Super easy to change the filters
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Replacement filters are expensive
👎 We’d like to see it come with a remote
5. Rabbit Air MinusA2
If you’re looking for a futuristic, Starship Enterprise-type design, Rabbit Air is here with their super sci-fi-looking MinusA2.
A character in itself, the look of the MinusA2 is anything but typical. It’s flat, it’s thin, it can be mounted on the wall and it has a long light across the front (hence the spaceship references).
If futuristic isn’t your style, don’t worry; RabbitAir has brought out a multitude of different faces so you can customize your unit with different works of art to suit any home.
The MinusA2 is “out there” compared to the others in this list, but it’s not all about looks.
This unit has a couple of smart features included to make your life easier, including an air quality indicator, mood lighting, auto mode, and the ability to connect to a smartphone app to control it all.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | HEPA Filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 200 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 815 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 12 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 25.6 – 51.3dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 20.25H x 21.4W x 7D inches / 51.4H x 54.4W x 17.8D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 19.4 lbs / 8.8 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $132.52 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 The fact that you can mount this unit on the wall
👍 It has 5 fan speeds including Turbo mode
👍 It comes with a 5-year warranty
👍 You can change the color of the mood light from the app
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The official filter replacements are expensive
👎 The control buttons are quite small
6. Dyson Air Purifier/Fan Combo – HP04 Pure Hot +Cool
Dyson is well known for producing products with the latest trends in design in mind. Their latest venture into air-cleaning devices is no different.
It looks like the Dyson team have spent much of their time designing an air purifier for the modern home.
Unfortunately, they’ve not spent as much time on its performance.
Dyson has given us all the smart features we’ve come to expect from recent air purifiers.
With the Dyson app you can not only control the fan speed and temperature, you can also check the air quality inside and outside your home.
It also comes with a remote control in case you’re not tech-savvy to switch through the 10 fan speeds the HP04 offers.
The thing that lets this unit down is its performance. When we tested it at the HouseFresh offices, we found that it takes 1hr 24 mins to clear our room of pollutants.
Which is not great when you compare it to the Levoit 600S at less than half the price of the HP04.
The Dyson may be for you if you’re looking for a multi-purpose device that looks like nothing else on the market. Just don’t expect it to work as fast or hard as some of the other units on our list.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | HEPA Filter |
| CADR (CFM): | 89 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 400 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 12 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 40 – 62 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 30.1H x 8.07W x 5.11D inches / 76.5H x 20.5W x 13D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 12.36 lbs / 5.6 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $53.88 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 You can use both the app and the remote to control settings
👍 Fan mode is great at changing the temperature of the room
👍 Air quality sensor is fast at picking up pollutants
👍 It can rotate 360 degrees
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Replacement filters are expensive
👎 Price > performance
7. Coway Airmega AP-1512HH
So you’re in the market for a minimalist air purifier that doesn’t look like an air purifier, and that will fit into the aesthetic of your room. Let me introduce you to Coways’ modern stylings of the AP-1512HH.
I loved the look of this device even before we purchased one. Then when it arrived, I loved it even more.
The AP-1512HH wouldn’t look out of place in Darth Vader’s bedroom with its sleek lines, glossy finish and black design that will clear your smaller rooms up to 361 sq. ft.
With the control panel on the top of the unit, you can constantly monitor the air quality through its light sensor, blue for clean, purple for medium polluted and red for highly polluted.
Under the hood, you’ve got Coways True HEPA filter, deodorizing carbon filter, a pre-filter, and a bipolar ionizer to trap everything out of the air that shouldn’t be there.
You can use auto mode, which changes the fan speed by the number of pollutants in the air or choose from the three fan speeds available.
Look no further if you want style and performance in one unit.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | True HEPA filter, deodorizing carbon filter, pre-filter, and bipolar ionizer |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 240 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 361 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24 – 53 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 9.6L x 16.8W x 18.3H inches / 24.4L x 42.7W x 46.5D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 12.3 lbs / 5.58 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $168.58 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 Performed amazingly in our tests
👍 Has Eco-mode for energy saving
👍 Low price for high performance
👍 Easy to move between rooms
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Uses a lot of energy on highest fan speed
👎 Would be great if it had app connectivity
The One Stylish Air Purifier We Don’t Recommend: Molekule Mini
When the Molekule Mini hit the market, design awards started to come in thick and fast, almost as thick as the claims Molekule made about its performance abilities.
After a string of claims that Molekule was a little liberal with the truth, they were forced to retract a few of their statements.
But at HouseFresh, we don’t listen to hearsay; we had to test with our own eyes with our performance tests and evaluations.
We gotta admit, this unit looks great! From its matt finish and fabric handle down to the detailing of the logo, you can’t deny those design awards are justly deserved.
It’s a big shame that the Mini isn’t worth the price tag or your time. We put it to the test with an open mind but were left with our heads in our hands.
It took over 3 hours to clear most of the contaminants (not even all) in our testing room.
Compare that to:
| Air Purifier | Air Cleaning Speed |
| Levoit Core 600S | 15 minutes |
| Blueair Blue Pure 211+ | 18 minutes |
| Alen BreatheSmart 75i | 24 minutes |
| Smart Health S | 29 minutes |
| Levoit Core 400S | 33 minutes |
Combine that with the noise level this unit kicks out, and you’ll see why the design alone is not worth the price tag:
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | PECO Filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | estimate 80-90 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 250 sq. ft. |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 30 – 80 dB |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 10.1 lbs / 4.58 kg |
| Energy consumption*: | $132.52 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 It looks good… really good
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 They could rip out the fan and replace it with one that performs on par or better than units in this range
Common Questions About Stylish Air Purifiers
🤔 Does design affect performance?
No. Design affects how the unit looks in your home and fits into your room aesthetically. It’s entirely subjective.
Performance happens inside the unit. It’s essential that when you find an air purifier you like the look of, to research how it performs in the real world. If you don’t care as much about looks, then be sure to also look at what we think is the best air purifier currently available.
Looks can be deceiving, so ensure that the air purifier can clear pollutants out of your size room at a good speed.
🤔 Does size matter?
Yes, it does. Air purifiers are specifically built with the size of the room in mind.
If you have an air purifier that isn’t built for the size of the room you want to use it in, it won’t make the difference you want it to. The same goes if the unit is too big for the room.
Pro tip: If you like the design of a unit, but it’s too small for the room, check out the rest of the brand’s range. There’s likely one that looks the same or similar, made for larger rooms.
🤔 What is the difference between medical grade H13 HEPA vs. True HEPA vs. HEPA?
It may just sound like confusing scientific jargon, but there is a difference between each filter.
It all comes down to the effectiveness of the filter. H13 HEPA has the best performance of the three, True HEPA comes second, and HEPA, while still highly effective, comes in third.
If you want to know the ins and outs of each type, check out our full article on the subject. Or, have a look at our simplified graphic.
SOURCES
*Monthly energy consumption costs have been calculated using our air purifier electricity usage calculator, which allows us to calculate daily and yearly costs associated with running an air purifier for 24hs a day. You can customize the result by air purifier wattage and by state. In the case of the calculations we shared on this page, we used California as our base state for energy prices.
Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API