Solvation-controlled emission of divalent europium salts

•Solvation of divalent europium salts by tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethoxyethane (DME) leads to shift in emission maximum.•In general emission observed from DME solution is red shifted compare to that of THF.•Effect of solvation is marginal in absorption spectra.•Time dependent density functional theory indicated similar orbital transitions are involved in both the solvents.•An additional relaxation mechanism such as change in geometry in the excited is responsible for red shifted emission in DME.