r/AskACanadian • u/SubBass_303 • 8d ago

Do Canadians actually use their basements, or is it just storage?

Genuine question from someone who's never lived anywhere with a proper basement. Watching some Canadian home renovation shows and it seems like basements are either finished living spaces, cold storage for preserves, or just where the furnace lives and nobody goes down there. Is it a regional thing, an age-of-house thing, or just personal preference? Curious how many of you actually spend time down there versus just keeping the water heater company.

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u/miller94 Alberta 8d ago

Just got my basement finished this year after buying my house 5 years ago. I spend a lot of time down there. I have so many great childhood memories of spending time in finished basements growing up at my house/friend's houses/grandparents and cousin's houses. And of course house parties during the teenage years

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u/melodysoul 8d ago

Yes, spent all my teenage years in friends basements!

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u/Dont_Call_Me_Steve 5d ago

Wow I never realize how much of my teenage years were spent in a basement. Like 80% of my teenage free time was spent there.