Where would you start finishing an upstairs room in a dormer bungalow?

[Noodge]

I have a dorma bungalow, and one of the upstairs rooms is unfinished. Bare floors, bare walls (as in bricks with no covering). No window as obviously it was originally the roof of a standard bungalow.

I am getting more and more into DIY but I am aware there's not much I can do myself here!

Under the eves to the back of the room, there's still insulation materials and beams visible too.

How would you start to make this into an actual, useable room? Currently I am just using it for storage and exercise.

I’d probably consider some storage on the slanting side and add some removable panels so you can access pipes etc if you need.
I’d also get a velux put in (by a professional) if you’re intending to use the space (I think a window would be necessary for it to count as a bedroom?)
That would be done first and then you can consider decorating. If the floor is decent enough then sand and varnish.

For it to be classified as liveable space when you come to sell then you need building regs and a window. I'd start with this before spending much more on it.

Get a window put in, then insulate the crap out of it and plasterboard it. You should be able to insulate and plaster board yourself.

Then, if you have a friendly electrician, they can show you how to run the wiring for lights and sockets and check and connect it up when you are finished. It can save money. Then work out where you want to run heating pipes up from the floor below and get a plumber to plumb in a radiator, or if you are feeling brave you can read up and so this yourself too.

Thank you so much all! I was worried this would cost a fortune but I hadn't considered that I could plasterboard it myself. I am getting more into DIY recently.

Having said that,I think the window installation is best left to someone who knows what they're doing!

Have you got planning permission and/or building regs approval, if it is as it sounds just a roof space the floor may not be strong enough for a room. Does it have a proper staircase and fireproof door? Do make sure whatever you do is safe and legal.

Put as much insulation in as you can but make sure you leave a 5cm air gap betwewn the tiles and the start of the insulation so that there is airflow otherwise the roof could gwt badly damaged if there is ever a leak.

I currently have a pole in there that I use, and I store things (I used to teach pole fitness and I still practice for strength training) so definitely strong enough to be walked around on. The rest of the upstairs is finished, I have a shower room/loo, a bedroom with two Velux windows and a box room that I've put a bed in. No window but was fine for my friend to sleep in recently when she'd just come for the night but wanted to have a drink. So the rest is finished, just this room. I will look into planning permission etc before I do anything but I think given the rest of the upstairs is done, that I won't have too much of an issue.

Thank you for this tip!

Before spending on finishes, I’d do the boring checks first. Confirm what approvals already cover the existing upper floor, and get the floor/roof structure checked properly — a floor that feels solid under a pole isn’t proof that the joists were designed for habitable-room loading. I’d also check the stairs, guarding, fire separation/escape and any existing roof or leak issues.

If a roof window is needed, do that before insulating and plasterboarding. Then it’s first-fix electrics/heating, insulation (with the ventilation gap required for your roof build-up), plasterboard, flooring and decoration. Ask Building Control or an approved inspector what they need to see before anything gets covered up. That order avoids having to undo nice new finishes later.