A barrier assembly for preventing items from falling behind domestic appliances and a method of using the same is provided. The barrier assembly provides one or more mesh nets, each mesh net extending between two pivotable columns. Each pivotal column is mounted to spaced apart surfaces along an upper periphery of an appliance. As a result, each independent mesh net may be pivoted to different angles of incident relative to the upper surface of the appliance so as to close off the space between that portion of the periphery of the appliance and an adjacent wall, preventing item from falling therein.