The ternary complexes of Sm(III) with dibenzoylmethane (dbm) were synthesized by introducing 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen), 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (tmphen), 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dpphen), 2,2-bipyridyl (bpy), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2-bipyridyl (4,4-dmbpy), 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2-bipyridyl (5,5-dmbpy) and 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2-bipyridyl (4,4-dtbbpy) as a second ligand. The complexes were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis (CHN), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), IR spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural study shows that in all complexes Sm(III) is in square antiprism geometry. All complexes emit strong luminescence under ultraviolet excitation. The strongest emission is at 643 nm which can be assigned for 4 G 5/2 to 6 H 9/2 transition, equivalent to energy of 15550 cm −1. The addition of the second ligand has increased the emission intensity of the complexes while the transition is maintained.