The modern concepts underlying the control of luminescence characteristics (quantum yield, intensity, emission color) of lanthanide coordination compounds are analyzed. The influence of the electronic structure of ligands and ions of 4f elements on the luminescent properties of these metal complexes is examined in detail. Approaches for changing the quantum yield values, emission intensity and color are proposed both by the directed design of the coordination sphere of lanthanide ions and the composition of compounds, and by using external stimuli (temperature, wavelength of exciting light).