Fluorescent bulbs.. any good in this modern age?!

[AnonymousBird]

A wall light I really like from a new range at Philips has a mega low energy fluorescent bulb in it.

I am always wary of fluorescent - generally awful and so stark.

However, are the modern bulbs better/likely to give a good homely light? Claims to be non-flicker giving ambient lighting...

not sure what to think and it's an expensive mistake to buy the wall light on the off chance.

Any experience gratefully received.

A lot depends on the quality of the lamp. Lamps with a low coulour temperature will appear gloomy - these are often the cheap ones from Wilkinson's or the free ones your energy shipper sends in the post.

Remember that lighting in commercial premises is usually fluorescent and the lighting is usually very crisp in modern offices and retail premises.

Fluorescent lamps are obsolete really, led lighting is the way forward being many times more efficent, safer and they do use a lot less energy. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury which is harmful to the enviroment so I would never use them.