Finishing underground room stairs..? We are in the process of finishing our basment. Regarding the...

We are in the process of finishing our basment. Regarding the stairs, they are that builders grade, revolting gypsum (?) board. Instead of compeltey carpeting them, we were thinking of just installing a mat runner in the middle section. But, soemthing would inevitability to be done to the wood first to make it look like regualr wood. We sorta priced oak planks made for this purpose, but it be about $25 per step. Is there another product for purpose? What is it call? Any other ideas for the stairs? For high traffic sense, we are doing the entire living area tile, so dont' have to clash up w/any carpet on floor.
How to generate a Greek Column?
Answers:    You could buy a "softer" wood than oak since you are going to cover the center with runner. Install and stain it with the wood color you prefer. Then coat with Poly.
Putting contained by bathroom contained by crypt?
stain it so it would look approaching oak.than put ur runner on.