These curtains are perfect for our screen in patio. Our home came with a screened in patio with curtain rods already hung. These are the perfect amount of coverage. It's hard to describe the sheerness but I will try. In the evening when the sun is shining in and on a particular spot you can pull the curtain and it will stop the sun from shining directly on you. You can sort of see through the curtains - not perfectly like thin sheers but you can make out shapes and patterns through them. They add a very high end look to the patio and we purchased blue cushioned all weather patio furniture from Wayfair and they match beautifully. I would highly recommend these curtains. We have had them one full summer and they have been through rain storms. They have not faded, nor shown signs of mold or any discoloration. We live in NC so it is hot here. I hope this review helps. These are great quality, purchase with confidence.