You can dim the compact flo's. I have them in my strip lights in the living room. The key is buying the kind that say "dim able"
I use these:
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=WqdbTpW9LpPG0AGU8IWUCQ&ved=0CH8Q8wIwAQ

I use these:
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=WqdbTpW9LpPG0AGU8IWUCQ&ved=0CH8Q8wIwAQ