I am really glad I chose these curtains. The color and pattern are not what I would typically gravitate towards but I found the soft gray and yellow really makes a statement. As far as the blackout is concerned, they don’t seem to let any light in at all unless of course they’re not shut together. Makes sense to me. They aren’t too heavy. When I initially picked up the package of them they seem heavier than I expected but once I took down the old curtains I realized they’re no heavier than the old ones. They are much prettier and I really like the feel of the fabric part. The backing is an odd feeling rubbery type of material but that’s what keeps the light out.