Return the book shelf. If you want the space covered, a few studs and some drywall will do the trick, then hang some art. A tall three panel, two sided screen could possibly work. A bunch of doo dad home decor on a bookshelf for which you have no books isn't going to improve the thing you didn't need. Sorry : ) Take it back. Post a photo of what you are trying to hide..........I can't see why you'd need to hide the kitchen it appears to be that you are hiding.

You're right, the back of the stove is ug-ly.

What do you own that you want to display? Do you have a collection of any type of object, or do you want to start a collection?

What are your interests and hobbies?

Can I not persuade you to start reading? :-)

You want to make it look as though it had to be there because it reflects who you are, or because it shows off lovely things it would be a sin to hide.

Find another spot for the bookshelf dear, I have never SEEN a stove with a back that high. But in the interest of safety, I'd not park wood anything directly behind, up against it. A three panel screen,, would be a better, safer bet......leave a gap behind the stove please, or fold it up when stirring the wok. Amazon Prime, 70 bucks. Use the shelf thing....elsewhere or sell it on craigslist

A metal bakers rack. That would allow you to display some (non flammable) items, like extra dishes and pretty cookware and casseroles, crocks with extra utensils, a collection of pretty handmade pottery, maybe cookbooks on the lower shelves away from the cooking area. I think bakers racks would not be hard to find on CL.

you don't need to fill it immediately so the idea of displaying a collection is a good one. think of something you like and start collecting. framing some photos or even art postcards is also a good idea.

but in the meantime you should fill some of the space with books. get them at a thrift shop or salvation army. you can get nice hard cover books for $.25 or even less. they'll look good and may even inspire you to read some of them.

I don't think you have anything to worry about the stove catching the bookshelf onfire. If so ranges would not be set in between wood cabinets and drywall. They are well insulated. Pick up a few hardback books at goodwill and decorate the rest of the shelf with what you love. Remember less is more.

I think the bookshelf was a great solution to your problem. How about a bar shelf in the middle similar to the picture above? Then take out higher shelves and hang a poster or picture you will enjoy looking at. Underneath, continue your idea of using boxes or baskets in lower shelves for storage.

I know you said you don't have any books, but maybe cookbooks? I'm sorry If this was already said and I missed it. You can get them inexpensively at second hand stores for a few dollars or sometimes less. I would consider getting maybe a few books with subjects that interest you. Besides books, I would add maybe some plants, baskets, photos (eye level), pottery or dishes. If you can adjust the shelves it can look nice to have one with more space to accommodate a larger piece of art. I would do some searches looking up bookshelves and how they're arranged. Since this is right near the kitchen also do searches for baking racks and how they're arranged. Try arranging some items and post some photos here and we can make more suggestions. It looks like your kitchen cabinets are lighter wood and light counters and white trim. The bookshelf would probably look nice painted the trim color if you're up for it. Could you post photos of the surrounding area there so we can see how it relates to the rest of the room? If you paint it, you'll need to allow it to cure before you add items. I'd wait at least two weeks (the can of paint should state how long cure time is), but most times I believe it can take about a month or so to fully cure. You'd want to wipe it down, prime (I'd use bonding primer - Zinsser 123 primer is good or Kilz) then you could lightly go over with 220 sandpaper, clean dust, and two coats of your paint. I would use semi-gloss.

If your apartment is like the ones I've lived in, you don't have enough storage. A collection of similar bins or boxes can hold almost anything you have, from winter gloves to boxes of cookies!

Does the exposed part of the stove get hot when you cook?

I do have books but I also have lots of other stuff that I put on my bookshelves.

I got nice boxes and baskets to store things.

Go to Goodwill and get books - they are cheap. I donated rid (literally) of about 50 boxes of books because there was no longer any reason for me to keep them. I held onto a few shelves of books that were still functional - i.e. Joy of Cooking or sentimental but I'm pretty much anti-clutter now so I only have digital media (books, music etc) because I don't want to deal with storing anything and it's easier to access digital.

If you have no decorative tchotchkes, look on the internet and see what style or colors you like and then coordinate by color or theme or whatever you find aesthetically pleasing.

I don't see why a bookcase would be more of a hazard than a wall - it's the back of the stove which I assume is insulated and generally rests against a wall anyway.

I think it's an ingenious way to hide the back of the stove which is a bizarre design element to deal with.

Could we see a photo of the stove from the kitchen side, please. I've never seen a stove back this high or placed with no wall behind it. Very strange. I probably wouldn't have rented this apt because of it.

It looks like the space was designed for a slide in range but the landlord cheaped out and bought a used or clearance freestanding range (thus the high, exposed back). if the back of the bookcase doesn't look good from the kitchen, just paint the part of it that's exposed to match the walls/backsplash of the kitchen.

I think your solution is a good one. I, too, would pick up a few books. What are you going to do if you have a power outage with nothing to read!! But the ideas above are great, too. I especially like the photo display on part of it at least, if you could do all black and white or sepia, with matching (different sizes, though) frames. If they don't match, or with color photos, it could become a real hodgepodge.

The other idea that seems practical is to get matching boxes, baskets, etc and store things you might not have great space for otherwise. Maybe the photo display on the upper shelves and storage baskets on the lower?

The idea of going out and buying random books just to fill up a book case seems very bizarre to me. In my opinion, books should be purchased to be read, not used as "decor."

I thought that looked familiar... see related discussion.

Good point about tipping hazard -- in addition to warning about fire hazard.

related discussion

It might be a good idea to cover the back side, visible from the kitchen, with something to make it decorative from that side. My first thought was Foil ? Not decorative. The second thought was a pretty sample roll of wall paper that makes your kitchen look nice, and than afix a thin piece of plexiglass over that wallpaper. It is not expensive, and will allow the wallpaper to show thru. The 3rd thought was a poster of some pattern or still life, and than protect that by having it(craft stores sell do it yourself laminate) laminated before you afix it to the backside of the cabinet. That way you can wipe off any splatter of spaghetti sauce or whipped potatoes or 7 minute frost that might fly up there and land. The 4th idea is to buy some of that pretty pressed tin, either in black or white, or copper, or silver...or...and press that on the back of the shelves. Instant backsplash, and very attractive also. Now, on the shelves, I think using baskets or bins is awesome if you can find some that fit in, and do that on a couple of shelves, for seasonal items, softgoods for a table(cloth napkins, picnic ware, etc) as well as a pantry if you need add'l pantry storage or small appliance storage. If you wind up with more 'tools' to store on the shelves, you can always buy a cafe curtain rod and some rings, purchase a pretty single bed flat sheet, fold it at the top to create a faux valance as needed to keep it from being a drag on the floor surface, and no matter what you put in the shelving it will be hidden. Of course, you can do that same thing with a vintage piece of tablecloth, vinyl tablecloth, lace curtain panel. Well, now your ideas are endless. Have some fun with it all. I like the other ideas share above this post too. If you find a buy on the pressed tin tiles, you might get some more of the masonite cut to fit and nail it all across the opening from left to right, put the tiles on the kitchen side and....put the tiles or a poster or wallpaper all across the living side of the wall. ...AKA What was the complex owner thinking when he created this????? ?? They might cooperate in having the masonite installed and help defray the cost of the pressed tin tile since it would certainly be a permanent NEEDED asset to the place.

Why would it be more of a tipping hazard here than if backed up to a wall?

Omg. Spend 70 bucks and get a screen up above. Put it six inches to a foot away from back of cook...,, use the bookcase somewhere else. Not that hard. And you'll make up the 70 not buying junk to fill the shelves.

All is portable to the next home. A screen is always nice in a corner :)

Put your Kindle on one shelf, on a stand. Let your visitors pick their own book. Problem solved.

It seems like a good idea to me. If/when you move, you'll have a sturdy bookcase.

Since this will be at the back of your stove, you might want to make sure that the paint, at least on the back, is for "high heat".

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Specialty-12-oz-Bar-B-Que-Black-Satin-High-Heat-Spray-Paint-3-Pack-7778830/303282792?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-AllProducts%7c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkdPv64zw2gIVwlmGCh3KhQ4wEAkYAyABEgJlyfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIjXnfWM8NoCFdALgQodbDsDKw

In addition to any cookbooks you have or might acquire, you could display items such as canister sets, candy dishes, candle holders, serving trays and dishes.

As to the color ... IF you want the shelving unit to not be a visual focal point ... if you want it to visually disappear as if it were a wall, you might paint it the same color as your wall. Alternately, you could just paint other side -- the interior sides, back and shelves -- a less stark color.

If you decide you want something different to cover this space and/or want to use this shelving elsewhere, you could measure the width of the base cabinet in which the stove is placed (? about 42" ?) and locate a heating/ac duct installer in your area and buy a square piece of sheet metal you could have framed as if it were a photo and attach it to both the overhead and base cabinets with screws and remove it if/when you move.

You could have this piece of sheet metal framed with wood to minimize any risk of being cut from the edges of the metal, provided, of course, you take into account the frame's width as you have the metal cut.

You could paint that square of sheet metal you're having framed with the black high heat spray paint -- but do make sure you have adequate ventilation to use spray paint. (Paint it outdoors if you can; it dries well enough to handle it by the edges fairly quickly.)

The side of the metal opposite the stove could be decorated in any number of ways. You could paint it another solid color or paint a design on it. You could affix wallpaper or contact paper to it. You could use magnets to hold pictures in place on it. This would be an art project you could take with you if/when you move.

One caveat, if you don't frame the metal, you'd want to be sure the metal was cut by pro, put the cut edge against the wall and still be very careful about cutting yourself on that outer exposed edge.

Keep the book case away from the stove please. You do not have to have flames for something to become combustible. The auto ignite point of cardboard is about 450 degrees (hence the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury!!). The back of the book case is probably a cardboard like backing material. It does not have to come into direct contact with flames to combust. And exposing it over and over to high temps lowers the auto ignite point. Keep the book case away from the stove.

All bookshelves, tall dressers, stoves, etc have anti tip straps or brackets that they come with. Which almost everyone ignores. And a few people regret ignoring when it kills a child or pet when it falls over on them. A friend of mine actually testified in a lawsuit over a death resulting from a stove tipping over and causing a death.

So you have 2 elements back to back that can hurt you if not properly installed.

Sophie, I totally forgot about the whole tip factor. Good catch. The stove is improperly installed and then the bookcase has no straps.

The heat producing elements of the stove are not at all close to the back of that bookcase. In fact, the top of the stove will provide a barrier from the burner/hot food and the back of the bookcase. I'm sure the upper and surrounding cabinets are closer to the elements than that bookcase.

Actually, the bookcase is a pretty good solution to a problem.

You can probably buy 'hurricane straps' at a local building supply store and make them work for your bookcase...

I like the look and it's a good idea. I would, however, put the bookcase on sliding pads or casters and just move it away some when using the oven. No big deal.

I looked at a few instalation instructions for electric ranges online. There is clearance requirements for the height of cabinets above and on the sides of the cooktop, but 0 clearance is required for the back wall and bottom cabinets.

Our library sells books by the bag $1.00

per bag.

Glad you came up with a plan that makes you happy!