What I did was to buy a tabletop full spectrum lamp (made by IGIA), 27 watt. It is lightweight, and I put it next to my recliner in my living room where I freep w/my laptop, and read a lot or write. It's not a thing of beauty (it's white) but it only cost me 30 bucks (through a discount catalog) and I can haul it from room to room. It's great for reading. Uses about 1/4 of the energy of an incandescent lightbulb, thus lowers electricity costs. As it is portable, I can put it anywhere I want, and therefore I can leave the aesthetically more pleasing incandescent lighting in my lamps in the living room and other rooms but I don't use them often as I use the portable full spectrum lamp instead when alone.
When company comes, I put the full spectrum lamp into my 2nd bedroom by my desktop computer, and use the incandescents that look much better until the guests leave. Then I haul out my full spectrum again and use it for my general needs. Works great. I have since gotten a full spectrum floor lamp for by my bed, where I also do a lot of reading, as it is also great light for doing such tasks as (if female) shaving one's legs, putting on makeup, plucking hairs w/tweezers, looking for fatal facial or body flaws, etc. Again, when company comes, I just move the floor lamp away from the side of my bed to a corner of the room, and use the regular incandescent bedside table lamps, that throw off a more attractive light. This is working like a charm, saving me energy costs, but still allowing for the use of incandescents which are better when company comes, and they don't look ugly like the flourescents do in your lamp socket. Can't stand that swirly looking bulb. I think I've got the best of both worlds now.
I might add, as a last note, that one of the reasons I got the full spectrum was in an attempt to alleviate the SAD syndrome that winter brings in cold, dark climes such as exist where I live here in Illinois. It may be psychological sleight of hand, but it really does improve my mood when I turn on these full spectrum lamps. Even if it is a brain fake, if it works, it works. I need all the help I can get in the middle of January and February, two reasonably hard months to take during winter.