Those long winter nights seem to drag on forever. As the days get shorter and shorter, some people find themselves wanting to crawl into bed by 6 p.m., because it's already so dark outside.

There doesn't seem to be much that can be done to extend the daylight hours, but there are ways to artificially create more natural lighting in the home.

"There are all kinds of neat things you can do," stated Rhonda Hoover. As lighting showroom manager at US 31 Electrical Supply in South Bend, she advises adding lamps to "brighten things up a bit." Changing the type of bulbs used in existing light fixtures can also transform a room.

"Halogen flood lamps can be used in place of regular flood lamps," said Hoover. Noting how many homes now feature recessed lighting, the halogen lamps "are great for emphasizing pictures and art objects of any kind."

Hoover continued, "Frosted halogen lamps cut the glare." That glare is what makes many rooms look unnatural.

For chandeliers, there are krypton-based candle bulbs, which Hoover related, "have a whiter, brighter light. And the bulbs last longer" than conventional brands.

Another option Hoover described are "color corrected tubes." A type of fluorescent tube, they provide illumination "as close as you can get to natural daylight." She recommends their use in places where people spend a lot of time. "It helps people avoid Seasonal Affective Disorder."

Chromalux is one brand of such bulbs. John Simala, owner of House of Andala in South Bend, has been selling them for at least five years. "We get a lot of repeat business for them," he said.

Fluorescent bulbs, as a matter of fact, provide a great deal more light than conventional bulbs, Simala revealed. A 28 watt fluorescent bulb, for instance, is equivalent to a 100 watt regular bulb. He recommends using fluorescent bulbs, for that reason.

It may surprise some people to know that the living room in an average sized house should have four lamps. The positioning of those lamps can make a world of difference in how effectively they illuminate the room. Light aimed at the ceiling is reflected back to the rest of the room, observed Simala.

"Make sure that your shades are not opaque," Simala added. "Lighter shades of beige or white are much better than colors" when it comes to allowing the most light to penetrate the lamp shade.

To prevent strain on the eyes when trying to fill the long dark nights with activities, such as reading, sewing or crafts, Simala suggests the Ott-Lite brand, which features true-spectrum lighting, providing a natural light.

The nights are only part of the problem. Even during the day, sometimes a house can be gloomy and dark because the sun may be hidden behind thick snow clouds. Dennis Papczynski, general manager of Michiana Window World, Inc. in Granger, tells customers to open all the curtains or shades to let in what limited daylight is available.

He acknowledged windows in older homes feature thick frames and storm windows which diminish the amount of light which can enter a room. "You'd be surprised what a little slimmer window would do," Papczynski said.

The new technology used in replacement windows integrates high performance glass, which lets light in, but doesn't let heat out. "With the cost of heat going up 70% this winter," Papczynski affirmed, new windows not only brighten the house, but cut heating bills.

Those who may be considering replacing their old windows don't need to worry about having larger windows installed, just to provide more natural lighting. "We usually don't widen windows, we lengthen them," Papczynski commented. The longer windows provide additional light while improving the appearance of the home.

A combination of these ideas can, in the end, help balance out the short days and long nights, giving the home a more comfortable ambience while waiting for the spring thaw.