Using Practical Lights and Gels for Scene Cohesion

On a recent indie feature, we were constantly battling to maintain visual cohesion across diverse locations with limited time. My 1st AD counterpart and I decided to focus heavily on practical elements and gels to guide the eye and maintain a consistent color palette, especially during day exteriors and mixed lighting interiors. Instead of relying solely on heavy HMI packages, we used a lot of PavoTube II 30X units hidden as practicals or rigged just out of frame, often with ¼ CTO or a light green gel to add subtle color contrast against natural daylight. This allowed us to quickly establish specific color zones in wide shots. For key moments, we’d swap the PavoTubes for an amaran 150c and gel it with deep blues or magentas to create immediate atmosphere, letting the camera, an AMIRA, capture those rich tones directly. This worked incredibly well for breaking up monotony in a long scene shot across several nondescript rooms. What didn't work as well was trying to achieve significant color shifts with diffusion only, we ended up with just brighter, less punchy light rather than a distinct color presence. We really had to commit to the gels. I'm curious if others have found more success with diffusion/color temperature shifts alone for visual cohesion in demanding indie schedules?