Just as Labor Day heralds new designs in fall fashion, September also means fresh shapes, colors and textures for home furnishings. We talked to the pros and came up with a list of the top 10 looks for home at stores and on Web sites.

The forecast? Asian-inspired home accessories, paler paints, anything with a mirror finish, shimmery metallic upholstery and an avalanche of more organic, eco-friendly designs.

It's still a jungle in here, as animal prints acquire "dressier" textures, says Jan Jessup, communications director for the Calico Corners chain. New upholstery Jacquards are "woven to look like silk, with a lustrous appearance."

Gentler flora and fauna rule this season's trends of embroidery and crewelwork at www.calicocorners.com. As life has become more high-tech, Jessup says, "we like these high-touch fabrics."

The biggest design news of the season might come as early as next week, when Martha Stewart introduces her new housewares and bed, bath and home accessories at 650 Macy's across the country. Will her wire-egg trees and scalloped sheets click with a generation of shoppers who were kids when her recipe for stylish living first gained fame nearly two decades ago?

"What's driving a lot of the fall introductions are colors from nature and an Earth-friendly approach to living," says Cynthia White, Macy's vice president of product development and fashion for the home.